Budget cuts are looming for Idaho's K-12 public education.

On Jan. 28, legislative budget writers reversed course on exempting K-12 public schools from potential reductions this and next fiscal year.

In a memo to Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, sent on behalf of Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee Co-Chairs Sen. C. Scott Grow and Rep. Josh Tanner, the superintendent was asked to provide information on how best to implement reductions as JFAC works through its current budget cycle and evaluates options to balance the state budget. It includes additional 1% and 2% reductions in K-12 state funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, totaling $27.5 million and $55.1 million, respectively.

"We are extremely concerned," Coeur d'Alene School District Superintendent Shon Hocker said. "For months, our state leaders offered a clear promise: Idaho’s K-12 classrooms would be protected from budget cuts."

That promise, Hocker said, was broken. 

"The recent directive for the State Department of Education to prepare for 1% and 2% cuts to K-12 public school district budgets, totaling upwards of $55 million, is not just a fiscal shift; it is a step backward for every child in Coeur d’Alene Public Schools and across the state," he said.

Mid-year budget cuts are particularly damaging, as they force school districts to scramble, disrupting existing contracts and vital student services, Hocker said. Three-quarters of the district's budget for the year has already been spent. 

Asking school districts to reduce budgets by 1% or 2% would mean $1 or $2 million less for the Coeur d'Alene budget, Hocker said. With only a few months of the school year remaining, cuts would affect athletics, shop classes, support for math and literacy programs, student intervention programs and music, art and debate programs. It could result in declaring financial emergencies to break teacher contracts and lay off teachers, which would lead to larger class sizes, reduced support staff, hiring freezes, increased fees and a heavier reliance on local taxpayers for adequate funding.

These choices are not “options or considerations,” he said. They are collateral damage caused by a legislative failure to prioritize the growth and success of Idaho’s future generations. 

"If the state can afford to spend $50 million of taxpayer dollars to fund private education initiatives at a time when our state budget is underwater, we surely can, and must, afford to keep our public schools whole as promised by our elected leaders," Hocker said.

Post Falls School District Chief Financial Officer Josh Gittel said K-12 budget cuts are never suitable for students.

"With Idaho already ranking last in the nation for per-pupil spending, further reductions will only widen the existing gap," Gittel said. "The district does everything possible to minimize the impact on students, but maintaining this balance becomes increasingly difficult over time. Eventually, we reach a point where we must prioritize competing needs — choosing between vital programs, staffing levels, competitive wages, facility maintenance and other essential operational costs."

He said while Post Falls' history of conservative planning allows the district to manage the immediate impact, the primary concern remains the long-term consequences, especially with no financial relief in sight.

However, Gittel said Post Falls School District remains in a strong financial position and added the immediate impact of state holdbacks on the district will be minimal.

"While we initially projected a 2% decline in enrollment for the 2025–2026 school year, our actual numbers have trended upward, showing a slight increase over the previous year," Gittel said. "Furthermore, student attendance rates are currently higher than in prior years. Together, these factors will generate additional state funding beyond our original projections. These unbudgeted revenue increases will serve as a vital buffer, helping to offset any current budget reductions."

He said those who have been in education long enough have learned to hope for the best while planning for the worst.

"This news is particularly disappointing because previous communications and messaging consistently suggested that K-12 would be held harmless from any cuts," Gittel said. "Now, seven months into our fiscal year, we are hearing different messaging to plan for a 2% reduction."

The ultimate impact will depend on how the state implements these budget cuts.

"Because school districts receive funding across several distinct categories, it remains unclear whether these reductions will be applied broadly or targeted toward specific areas," Gittel said. "In a worst-case scenario, the impact could reach approximately $950,000. Fortunately, for the current fiscal year, these holdbacks will be offset by additional revenue generated by higher-than-anticipated enrollment and student attendance." 

Lakeland Joint School District Superintendent Rusty Taylor said any change would affect his district, which already has a very tight budget. He's hoping for minimal cuts.

"That said, nothing has been decided yet, so I don’t want to speculate too much until we have clearer direction," Taylor said. "For now, we are in a wait-and-see phase."

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Idaho Education News contributed to this article.

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