JFAC approves multiple K‑12 budget adjustments, funds special programs and IDLA enrollment increase

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on an omnibus slate approved a series of K‑12 budget adjustments and program items, advancing supplemental and fiscal‑year 2026 funding for several state education programs.

Committee members voted to add targeted funding increases to the Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind, the teachers division, multiple student support items, and the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. The panel also approved a one‑time pilot for student transportation routing software and a supplemental appropriation tied to school bus safety cameras.

The educational services increase included pay and staff additions for the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind: career ladder equivalent adjustments, additional compensation to recruit and retain hard‑to‑fill positions, an early childhood outreach administrator, a region 4 consulting teacher, and an endowment adjustment. Jared Tetro, Deputy Division Manager, Budget and Policy, Legislative Services Office, described the request and the committee adopted a motion to add $492,000 from the general fund plus $12,900 from dedicated funds (total $504,900). Representative Miller spoke in support, noting recruitment challenges for instructors. The motion passed on a committee roll call with the majority voting aye.

On teachers and the statewide funding formula, the committee adopted a program‑maintenance adjustment to add $1,630,500 for population forecast and related placement/movement costs on the career ladder. The committee record includes a 10‑year enrollment and support‑unit analysis presented during debate showing shifting class sizes and a net reduction of approximately 200 support units in some categories.

The committee also approved a $9.5 million fiscal‑year 2025 supplemental in the public school student support program to cover federal grant payments (Title I and IDEA Part B) that were not paid in FY2024 because districts had reached appropriation caps. Jared Tetro said this reflects consistent timing issues when federal grant payments exceed prior appropriations. The supplemental passed on a recorded vote.

The student support division’s FY2026 package — which included adjustments for population forecasts, federal program funding, endowment adjustments, and a transfer of $10 million from the general fund to the public school other income fund — passed on committee action after discussion of the funding formula and distribution mechanics.

The Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) was approved for a population‑forecast increase of $3,577,600 after the committee reviewed a formula change enacted last session that shifted IDLA’s funding base. Tetro told members the new formula will save about $2.8 million compared with the prior method but that enrollment is projected to increase from about 49,680 to roughly 58,000 students next year.

The facilities division motion adjusted charter school facility counts and lottery dividend estimates and passed with a net reduction in dedicated funds, while central services won a $2.2 million one‑time pilot for student transportation routing software.

The State Department of Education received approval for a $33,601 FY2025 supplemental from the school bus camera fund to support cameras, bus arms and software tied to enforcement provisions approved in last session’s legislation.

Many motions included standard conditions, “federal funding restrictions” clauses and reporting requirements; for example, the committee added language requiring the Department of Education to verify compliance with a specific Idaho Code section before distributing certain funds and included other conditions pertaining to the distribution of federal funds. Committee members discussed the limitations of local authority for some uses and the intent of the funding language.

Votes at a glance

- Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind: Motion to add $504,900 (general + dedicated) — passed (committee majority recorded as aye). (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 227.56; finishing 468.89)

- Teachers division: Add $1,630,500 (general fund) for population forecast adjustments — passed. (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 516.46; finishing 710.35)

- Student support FY2025 supplemental: $9,500,000 (federal grant fund) — passed (Senate 8 aye/1 nay/1 absent; House 10 aye; committee total recorded 18 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent). (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 737.72; finishing 896.38)

- Student support FY2026 package: net changes combining reductions and increases, total net shown in committee motion — passed (committee recorded affirmative). (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 919.145; finishing 1475.71)

- IDLA population adjustment: add $3,577,600 (general fund) — passed (committee recorded affirmative). (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 1639.475; finishing 1815.21)

- Facilities division: net reduction of $1,570,100 (general + dedicated adjustments) — passed. (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 2047.13; finishing 2460.31)

- Central services student transportation pilot: $2,200,000 one time (general fund) — passed. (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 2468.375; finishing 2754.04)

- State Department of Education FY2025 school bus camera supplemental: $33,601 (school bus camera fund) — passed. (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 2762.79; finishing 2913.34)

Why it matters

The committee’s actions adjust ongoing K‑12 funding mechanics and add targeted resources for special populations, virtual learning enrollment growth, and transportation pilot technology. Several items change how state distributions interact with federal grants and dedicated funds. The decisions will affect district budgets, charter school facility flows, and programs that serve students with disabilities and those in remote or specialized programs.

Committee context and next steps

Members noted the complexity of Idaho’s funding formula and shifting enrollment patterns; several motions included reporting requirements and intent language to track program outcomes. Some items referenced legislation enacted earlier in the session and statutory verification steps before funds are released. The committee said it expects to revisit several items during year‑end adjustments or if subsequent legislative action changes the statutory landscape. The committee forwarded these items with “do pass” recommendations to the next stages of the legislative process.

Ending

Committee members said they would continue monitoring implementation and asked staff to provide follow‑up reports where language required additional verification or data sharing. No implementation dates beyond standard fiscal‑year effective timelines were specified in the committee motions.