About 45 residents, educators, and school administrators gathered at the College of Eastern Idaho on June 11 to weigh in on how Idaho distributes billions of dollars to its public schools — and many left little doubt about what they want changed.
The event was the second stop in a statewide listening tour led by Idaho State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, as the Department of Education works toward a full rewrite of the state’s K-12 funding formula. Senate Education Committee Chair Dave Lent (R-Idaho Falls) also attended, reflecting the local stakes in a debate that could reshape school finance across the state.
A Formula Decades Past Its Prime
Idaho’s current school funding model distributes money to districts based largely on average daily attendance — a structure that has remained mostly unchanged since 1994. Critics at the Idaho Falls session argued the approach creates unpredictable revenue swings and fails to account for the true cost of educating students with different needs.
The vulnerability of attendance-based funding drew pointed remarks from at least one speaker. Marcy Curr illustrated the problem bluntly: “If we get a bad strain of the flu … you’re going to lose 20% of your funding.” That kind of volatility, attendees argued, makes long-range budget planning difficult for district administrators and undermines instructional stability.
Speakers broadly favored shifting to an enrollment-based model, which would tie funding to the number of students registered rather than those physically present on any given day. The change would provide districts with a more stable and predictable revenue base.
Attendees also pressed for weighted funding — additional dollars for higher-cost student populations including those in special education, career-technical education, and alternative education programs. Under the current flat-rate structure, districts serving concentrated populations of high-need students receive no additional allocation to offset those costs.
Simplicity was another theme. Benjamin Merrill offered what may have been the session’s most direct critique of the existing formula: “If the formula takes longer than five minutes to explain, it is probably too complex.”
Legislative Push Stalled, but Department Moves Ahead
The push to overhaul the formula has already made partial progress at the Capitol. The Idaho Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Sen. Lent directing the Department of Education to draft legislation updating the K-12 funding structure. However, the resolution stalled in the House before the legislature adjourned in April, leaving the formal legislative vehicle on hold.
That setback has not stopped the department from pressing forward. Critchfield’s team has been conducting the statewide listening tour to gather public input throughout the summer, with a proposed funding model expected later this year. The Idaho Falls session was the second gathering in that effort, following an initial meeting in Boise the prior week.
For Idaho Falls and Bonneville County school districts already navigating budget pressures — including ongoing salary disputes between teachers’ unions and district leadership — the outcome of the funding formula debate carries significant financial consequences. A shift to enrollment-based, weighted funding could mean more reliable revenue and better resources for students with specialized needs.
What Comes Next
The listening tour continues with two more scheduled sessions. A Coeur d’Alene session is set for June 18 from 6–8 p.m., followed by a statewide virtual meeting on June 25 from 6–8 p.m. that would allow participants from across Idaho — including those in Bonneville County who missed the Idaho Falls event — to weigh in remotely.
The Department of Education plans to collect public feedback throughout the summer before finalizing a proposed new funding model later in 2026. Once a proposal is completed, it would need to move through the full legislative process when the Idaho Legislature reconvenes. For a formula that has gone more than three decades without meaningful revision, advocates at the Idaho Falls session made clear they believe the time for an update is overdue.
Residents interested in participating in future sessions or submitting written feedback can monitor the Idaho State Department of Education’s website for updates on the process.