Boosting students’ reading readiness, continued support for essential resources for students and improving salaries for teachers and support staff are top priorities in Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s public schools budget request for next year.
Sherri Ybarra
The superintendent’s proposed budget includes $39.3 million to provide the option of full-day kindergarten to all incoming kindergarteners who are assessed as below grade level in reading readiness. A related budget request of $100,000 would provide a screening assessment to identify students who would benefit most from the option of full-day kindergarten.
The superintendent’s proposed public schools budget seeks approximately $2.2 billion from the state’s general fund, an increase of 8.5 percent over the current fiscal year’s appropriation of approximately $2.05 billion. Of that increase, 4.9 percent is necessary to fund non-discretionary spending that supports programs already required in Idaho law. Those programs include Advanced Opportunities, which provides secondary students with the funding to take dual credit and other college and career courses and exams.
The proposed public schools budget includes $82.8 million to increase funding for the Career Ladder, an increase of 7.8 percent for growth and movement on the career ladder for teachers and pupil service staff, including an additional step for veteran teachers.
In addition, the superintendent is asking for a 5.3 percent increase in operational funding for school districts and charter schools to help them with increased health insurance costs and rising inflation.
The public schools budget also includes approximately $622 million in federal COVID relief funding that flows through the State Department of Education to local school districts and charter schools. (Office of Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction)
