JFAC approves K-12 budget adjustments: increases for deaf and blind services, teachers, IDLA growth and multiple program amendments

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on a recorded vote advanced a set of K–12 funding actions that include staff pay adjustments, targeted enhancements for specialized programs, an ongoing population forecast increase for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) and a one-time federal supplement for Title I and IDEA payments.

The committee approved a combined motion for Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind that added enhancements for career-ladder equivalents, recruitment and retention compensation, an early childhood outreach administrator and a Region 4 consulting teacher, and a small endowment adjustment. The motion increased the FY2026 appropriation for the school by $504,900 (general fund and dedicated funds). Jared Tatro, deputy division manager for budget and policy at the Legislative Services Office, described the enhancements and said the endowment board had increased distributions, producing a $12,900 endowment adjustment. Representative Miller urged support, saying, "These teachers... are hard to find and it's a high level of competition for the people that can do a good job in these situations." The motion passed with the majority recommendation.

Separately, the committee approved adjustments in the teachers division to reflect a population forecast change and career-ladder placement movement. The committee added $1,630,500 from the general fund for FY2026 to the public school support teachers division to cover placement and movement on the career ladder and a forecasted reduction in support units. Committee discussion noted an estimated 200 fewer support units in the formula and that the request included the previously enacted 5% compensation and…