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JFAC approves multiple K‑12 budget adjustments: deaf/blind enhancements, IDLA growth, transportation pilot and department allocations
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a sequence of budget measures affecting K‑12 education and the State Department of Education, including targeted enhancements for the Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind, population‑forecast and formula adjustments for teachers and student supports, a tuition and funding change for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, and a $2.2 million student‑transportation routing pilot.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a sequence of budget measures affecting K‑12 education and the State Department of Education, including targeted enhancements for the Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind, population‑forecast and formula adjustments for teachers and school programs, a tuition and funding change for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, a $2.2 million pilot for student‑transportation routing software, and supplemental funds for school bus safety cameras.
Why it matters: The votes implement formula and policy changes tied to bills the Legislature has passed this session and direct one‑time and ongoing general, dedicated, and federal funds to staffing, program adjustments and technology pilots intended to affect student services, special needs support, and statewide online course access.
What the committee approved (high‑level): - Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind — an increase totaling $504,900 (general and dedicated funds) for career ladder equivalents, recruitment/retention pay, one early childhood outreach administrator, a Region 4 consulting teacher, and endowment adjustments. Motion moved by Representative Miller and seconded by Senator Galloway; passed on committee voice/roll call (committee reported unanimous support as recorded: 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused on the combined action).
- Teachers division (public school support) — an additional $1,630,500 from the general fund to reflect population forecast and career‑ladder placement movement and related salary/benefit costs (motion moved by Senator Ward Engelking; second by Representative Petzke; passed by committee: recorded as 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused).
- Student support supplemental (FY2025) — a one‑time $9,500,000 from federal grant funds to cover Title I and IDEA Part B payments that school districts did not receive in FY2024 because the appropriation cap had been reached; motion by Representative Galvez; second by Senator Carlson. Committee vote…
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