Idaho education officials and state lawmakers kicked off a series of public listening sessions this month aimed at gathering input on a school funding formula that has not been substantially updated in roughly three decades. The first session took place at the Idaho State Capitol on June 4, drawing dozens of school administrators, trustees, parents, and elected officials to weigh in on what many described as a long-overdue overhaul.
State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, who organized the listening tour, was unable to attend the opening session due to illness. Sen. Dave Lent (R-Idaho Falls) stepped in to lead the meeting, while Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog (R-Meridian) and Democratic lawmakers Rep. Soñia Galaviz and Sen. Carrie Semmelroth, both of Boise, observed the proceedings.
A Formula Built for a Different Era
Idaho’s current school funding structure relies on an attendance-based formula — a model that only nine states, including Idaho, still use. By contrast, 35 states have moved to student-based funding models, which tie dollars more directly to individual students and their needs. Critics of Idaho’s existing approach argue it creates systemic rigidity that limits how districts can respond to local conditions.
The formula’s age has drawn bipartisan acknowledgment. Greg Wilson, one of the session participants, put it plainly, noting that “no one disagrees that our funding formula is outdated,” and that there is broad agreement it lacks the flexibility for schools to address the varying needs of their students.
The attendance-based structure also carries a recent track record of financial disruption. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state temporarily shifted to an enrollment-based model to prevent districts from losing funding as student attendance dropped. When Idaho reverted to the attendance-based formula in 2023, districts collectively absorbed an estimated $145 million in lost revenue — a figure that underscored how consequential the underlying formula can be.
Special Education Gap and Competing Priorities
Parents of children with special needs showed up in force at the Capitol session, raising concerns about what they described as a roughly $100 million shortfall in special education funding. Their frustration was evident. Bessie Yeley, speaking on behalf of families with children in special programs, said participants continue returning to the Capitol to remind officials of what she sees as an unmet obligation to students.
“We keep coming back, and we keep telling the people here in this building that they’re not meeting the obligations to our children,” Yeley said.
The gap in special education funding comes as the Idaho Legislature last year directed $50 million toward parents of private school and home school students — a school choice initiative that drew support from conservative lawmakers but also intensified scrutiny of overall education spending priorities. For families of students with disabilities enrolled in public schools, the contrast has sharpened their calls for action on the funding formula.
Legislative Path Forward
The Idaho Department of Education and lawmakers involved in the sessions are working toward drafting policy legislation that would incorporate formula changes for consideration in the next legislative session. A Senate Concurrent Resolution directing the department to write such a bill had passed the Senate earlier this year but stalled in the House. Despite that setback, the department has indicated it is moving ahead with a formula rewrite regardless of the resolution’s fate.
The listening sessions are expected to continue across the state, giving educators, parents, and community members additional opportunities to share perspectives before officials put pen to paper on specific proposals. Idaho’s participation in a nine-state minority using the resource-based funding model has become a recurring point of reference in the debate, with many attendees and officials pointing to the broader national trend as evidence that change is both necessary and long overdue.
What Comes Next
The Idaho Department of Education plans to use the feedback gathered through these statewide sessions to inform draft legislation targeting the funding formula. That legislation is expected to be introduced when the Idaho Legislature convenes for its next session. Officials and advocates alike will be watching closely to see whether the groundwork laid this summer translates into concrete policy changes — and whether the state can close funding gaps, particularly in special education, that participants say have persisted for years. For updates on Idaho education and state legislative developments, visit Idaho News.