Idaho ranks dead last among the states on what we invest per child for kindergarten to twelfth grade public education. As shocking and embarrassing as it is, we invest less in our most precious resource, our children, than any other state in the country. The gap is Huge. We spend $7500 dollars per student per year while the average state is spending twice as much. The best financed states like New York , Vermont, and Washington DC spend three times as much. The world is much bigger than Idaho and when our graduates go beyond high school into college, vocational training, the work force, or the military they are competing with graduates from school districts in states that are able to afford much more to prepare them for the next step. At the same time according to the federally mandated 5-year improvement plan, Idaho’s report card, Idaho has failed to meet its own goals in reading, math, english, graduation rates, degree attainment, and engagement for multiple years. Clearly, as a state we have failed and can do better. Children are our future. In poll after poll, the citizens of Idaho support strong public education but our legislature, session after session, fails to act and we fall further and further behind.

Article Nine of the Idaho constitution guarantees a “uniform and thorough” system of free public schools be provided by the state. Our state has an obligation to fully fund all school districts equitably. Currently, the state only provides a little over half the resources to support Lake Pend Oreille School District. The Idaho funding formula forces every public school district in the state to raise a substantial amount of the balance locally with voter approved property tax levies. Local property taxes levies are a poor way to pay for education. This model is inherently inequitable because all 120-school districts in the state are different; different enrollment, different popular support for levies, and different assessed valuation of taxable property. Some districts like Blaine County (Sun Valley) have very valuable private property and strong popular support for education and can raise substantial local funds. Other small rural districts do not have the tax base or popular support and can raise little or no money locally. The education a student receives should not depend on their zip code. To be fair all education monies must come from Boise and be distributed by the Department of Education equitably. The state can afford to fully fund schools. During the 2020 fiscal year the state had a 1.4-billion-dollar revenue surplus. All the local property tax levies in the state total 400 million dollars, and could be replaced with state monies. In order to be competitive with other states Idaho must not only eliminate the burden of local property tax levies but dedicate additional dollars to education. With a strong economy and a revenue surplus Idaho can afford it without additional taxes. Idaho only supports the minimum requirements for a high school diploma. Thes state does not support kindergarten, vocational education, electives, social and special services, activities, lower classroom sizes in primary schools, or facilities costs. To be successful school districts should be held accountable for every public dollar they spend but the legislature must provide the resources for them to succeed and provide a quality education for all young Idahoans.

GARY SUPPIGER

Cocolalla