The Cost of Underfunding Idaho’s Schools: What Five Years of Investment Could Have Delivered

Breaking: Idaho Faces a Deepening budget Gap Ahead Of June close

Idaho’s budget picture is deteriorating as June nears, with an estimated $40 million shortfall by month’s end. The state would need about $555 million to meet spending requests for the coming year, and aligning the income tax code with provisions of the so‑called Big Gorgeous Bill would add roughly $284 million to the gap.

The mounting figures prompt a crucial question: what would public schools look like if the state had increased investment five years ago?

education Funds, Outcomes And Hiring Realities

Projections from the Learning Policy Institute suggest that greater investment could lift student performance, especially for those starting behind, along with higher high school graduation rates and stronger college readiness.

Even with recent gains, Idaho’s teachers are paid less on average than in most neighboring states, and compensation offered by nearby higher education institutions remains competitive. Administrative turnover remains well above the national average as many experienced leaders relocate elsewhere for advancement.

additional funding could support more teachers and aides, enabling smaller classes and freeing resources for both competitive salaries and innovative teaching methods rather than forcing a constant trade‑off between the two.

Special Education And Building Needs Under Strain

There is also a $100 million gap to ensure adequate resources for special needs students, with current plans blocked as budget shortfalls mount. The state’s top education official has paused a proposed $50 million increase in special education spending until fiscal conditions improve.

As one state official put it, the goal is to be careful and deliberate, with maintaining current budget levels taking priority while long‑term investments are mapped out.

Other structural challenges linger, including a roughly $1.3 billion backlog of school building needs. Advocates say progress on early childhood education and relief for local property taxpayers that backfill state support could follow once more stable funding is secured.

Table: Key Budget Figures At A Glance

Item	Amount (USD)	Context
June shortfall (estimated)	$40 million	Forecast by month’s end
Next-year spending requests gap	$555 million	Funding needed to meet requests
Additional shortfall if Big Beautiful Bill adopted	$284 million	Tax-code alignment impact
Special education funding gap	$100 million	Current shortfall in special ed
Paused special education increase	$50 million	Top priority on hold due to budgets
Backlog on school facilities	$1.3 billion	Structural building needs

Evergreen Takeaways For Long‑Term Stability

The debate underscores how budget choices shape classroom realities, teacher recruitment, and the ability to address long‑standing infrastructure needs. Even modest shifts in funding strategy can ripple through staffing, student support, and facilities-and these effects tend to persist beyond a single budget cycle.

For communities, the episode highlights the trade‑offs between maintaining current services and investing in future capacity. As demographics shift and student needs evolve, steady, obvious budgeting becomes more critical than ever for sustaining educational quality.

Reader Engagement

What funding priorities would you shield in the next budget cycle to protect students today?

How should districts balance cost containment with preserving classroom quality and access to programs?

Call To Action

Share your thoughts in the comments and spread this update to fellow readers who care about Idaho’s schools and fiscal health.

Points in math and 5 points in reading compared with the national mean; districts with ≤ $10,500 per‑pupil spend score 4-6 points lower.

Current Funding Landscape in Idaho’s K‑12 System

• State education budget (FY 2024): $1.86 billion - ≈ $12,000 per student, 12 % below the national average of $13,600.
• Per‑pupil spending trend (2019‑2024): flat,with a cumulative 0.3 % inflation‑adjusted increase.
• Local levy reliance: Over 70 % of school revenue comes from property taxes, creating sharp disparities between urban districts (e.g., Boise) and rural districts (e.g., Owyhee).
• Teacher salaries: Average Idaho teacher salary $52,300 (2023); 9 % lower than the national median of $57,600.

Economic Consequences of Underfunding

1. Teacher turnover: idaho’s annual teacher attrition rate hit 14 % in 2023, costing districts an estimated $1.2 billion in recruitment and training expenses over five years.
2. Student achievement gap: Statewide NAEP scores lag 7 points in math and 5 points in reading compared with the national mean; districts with ≤ $10,500 per‑pupil spend score 4-6 points lower.
3. Long‑term workforce impact: A 2022 study by the Idaho Economic Progress Council projected a $3.5 billion loss in state GDP by 2035 if current education funding gaps persist, driven by reduced college completion and lower skilled‑worker availability.

Potential Outcomes of a Fully funded Five‑Year Investment Plan

Investment Area	Estimated Funding Needed (5 years)	Projected Benefits
Infrastructure upgrades (classroom modernization, STEM labs, high‑speed internet)	$320 million	• 95 % of schools achieve “modern learning environment” rating (vs.58 % now). • Rural broadband connectivity rises from 68 % to 94 %,enabling reliable distance learning.
Teacher recruitment & retention (salary increases, incentives, mentorship)	$210 million	• Average teacher salary climbs to $58,500, aligning with the national median. • Turnover drops to ≤ 7 % annually, saving $600 million in replacement costs.
Student support services (counselors, mental‑health professionals, ESL staff)	$140 million	• Student‑to‑counselor ratio improves from 1:550 to 1:300, linked to a 12 % reduction in chronic absenteeism.
early‑learning and pre‑K expansion	$95 million	• Universal pre‑K for 4‑year‑olds in 48 % of districts, raising readiness scores by 15 % on state assessments.
Technology integration (1:1 device programs, adaptive learning software)	$85 million	• Digital proficiency scores increase 20 % across grades 3‑8; remote‑learning interruptions drop by 80 %.
Professional development (data‑driven instruction,culturally responsive pedagogy)	$50 million	• Teacher effectiveness scores improve 18 % on state evaluation rubrics.

Case study: Boise School District vs.Rural Counterparts

• Boise (2022‑2023): $14,200 per‑pupil; 87 % of teachers hold advanced certifications; graduation rate 91 %.
• Rural Owyhee (2022‑2023): $10,800 per‑pupil; only 53 % of teachers have advanced certifications; graduation rate 78 %.

A targeted $25 million infusion (part of the five‑year plan) in owyhee could:

• Upgrade three high‑school science labs, expanding AP course offerings from 2 to 5.
• Provide a $5,000 “rural teacher stipend” that attracted 12 new certified teachers in 2024, raising staffing levels to state benchmarks.

Benefits of Adequate Funding

• Improved student outcomes: Research from the National Center for Education Statistics (2023) shows a $1,000 increase in per‑pupil spending correlates with a 0.4‑point rise in math scores.
• Economic growth: A 2024 Idaho Policy Institute simulation estimates a $1.1 billion boost in state tax revenue over ten years when education spending rises by 15 %.
• Community stability: Higher school quality sustains property values; districts that increased spending by ≥ 10 % saw a 3.2 % rise in median home prices within three years.

Practical Tips for Stakeholders and Advocates

1. Leverage data dashboards: use the Idaho Department of Education’s “Education Finance Explorer” to compare district spending ratios and identify gaps.
2. Form coalition partnerships: Align parent‑teacher associations,local businesses,and higher‑education institutions to lobby for the “Five‑Year Education Investment Act” at the state legislature.
3. Target grant opportunities: Apply for the federal “ESEA Title II” grant, which can cover up to 60 % of professional‑development costs for underfunded districts.
4. Engage media with human‑interest stories: Highlight real students who benefit from early‑learning programs or teachers retained through salary incentives.
5. Monitor accountability metrics: Track annual changes in NAEP scores, graduation rates, and teacher turnover to demonstrate ROI to policymakers.

Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Funding

• Adopt a weighted student funding formula: Adjust allocations based on enrollment factors (special education, english learners, low‑income status) to close equity gaps.
• Create a rainy‑day education fund: Allocate 0.5 % of state revenue each fiscal year to buffer against economic downturns, ensuring consistent school operations.
• Tie property‑tax caps to a minimum per‑pupil spend: Mandate that no district can fall below $12,500 per‑student without state supplemental aid.

Projected ROI of the Five‑Year Investment

• Student achievement: Expected 8‑point jump in state math proficiency rankings (from 24th to 12th nationally).
• Workforce readiness: 4 % increase in post‑secondary enrollment, translating to an estimated 1,200 additional Idaho college graduates per cohort.
• Economic multiplier: Every $1 invested in K‑12 education yields $4.2 in long‑term economic output,per the Brookings Institution (2023).

Key Takeaway for Readers

an infusion of $900 million over five years-distributed across infrastructure, teacher support, student services, and technology-could transform Idaho’s education landscape, close achievement gaps, and generate billions in economic benefits for the state. Stakeholders equipped with data, strategic partnerships, and clear policy goals can turn this vision into reality.