Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate passes outcomes-based education funding pilot after split debate
Summary
Senate Bill 11 47, establishing an outcomes-based funding pilot for K–12 education and reallocating $35 million in the education budget, passed the Senate 22–13 after debate over whether the money was new or reallocated and concerns about measuring outcomes.
Senate Bill 11 47, a measure that would direct $35 million toward an outcomes-based funding pilot for K–12 public education, passed the Idaho Senate after floor debate about funding sources and the design of outcome measures.
Sponsor Senator Lent described the proposal as a targeted approach emphasizing eighth-grade math and secondary outcomes (graduation and postsecondary attainment) and said initial disbursements would be modest and tied to measured student growth and proficiency. He told colleagues the pilot would pay per-student and per-achievement and that much of the appropriation would only be distributed if districts earned it through improved outcomes.
Opponents raised concerns that the $35 million represents additional money on top of the governor’s K–12 request (cited at $3.3 billion), and they urged that existing appropriations be directed to outcomes rather than adding funds. Senator Hunter Nichols and Senator Lenny both urged caution, with Nichols asking whether the $35 million was truly additional funding and Lenny warning about unintended incentives and possible gaming of metrics. Senator Ward Engelking and Senator Woodward argued the amount was already in the budget recommendation and that reallocating it for a pilot would be a fiscally prudent way to test outcomes-based funding.
Senate debate also included calls for clarity on the chosen outcomes and the measurement mechanism: Senator Markley asked for more study on the exact outcomes and metrics.
After debate, the Senate approved the bill on a roll-call vote of 22 in favor and 13 opposed. The measure will be transmitted to the House for further consideration.
