Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom
Luna announced today he is requesting a 5.9 percent increase in state general
funds for Idaho’s public schools for fiscal year 2015, which will fund the
2014-2015 school year. The increase covers the first year of implementation of
the Task Force for Improving Education’s recommendations, as well as other key
initiatives and programs for Idaho’s K-12 public schools.
“This is a prudent, responsible budget
that outlines just the first year of a multi-year plan to improve Idaho’s
public schools through implementation of the Task Force for Improving Education’s
recommendations,” Superintendent Luna said. “With these changes, implemented as
a comprehensive package, we can ensure every student not only graduates from
high school but graduates prepared to go on to postsecondary education or the
workforce without the need for remediation.”
Every year, state agencies are required
to submit budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year to the Governor and
Legislature at the beginning of September. Superintendent Luna asked for an
extension so he could incorporate the Task Force recommendations into his
FY2015 budget request.
The Task Force recommendations include
moving to a mastery-based system of education, broad support for the
implementation of higher academic standards, increased technology to bridge the
digital divide, a career ladder compensation plan for teachers, and restoration
of operational funding for Idaho school districts, among others.
Here are the highlights of
Superintendent Luna’s request for a 5.9 percent increase in state general funds
for Idaho’s public schools in FY2015:
Teacher
Pay:
The budget proposes $42.5 million in new
funding to implement the first year of a new career ladder compensation model
for Idaho’s teachers. The Task Force developed this career ladder, which combines
competitive salaries for teachers with incentives, rewards and accountability.
The system will be tied to a revised system of state licensure. A technical
advisory committee will continue to work on the details of implementation of
the career ladder model for Idaho.
Once the plan is fully implemented, a beginning
teacher in Idaho will make $40,000 a year and can continue to earn salary
increases based on experience, performance and other factors.
Operational
Funding:
The budget proposes $16.5 million to
restore the first year of operational funding, or discretionary funding, for
local school districts. This begins the Task Force recommendation to restore
operational funding that was reduced from school district budget during the
recession. Districts use this funding to pay for utilities, health care and
other costs at the district level.
Advanced
Opportunities:
The budget proposes $5 million in
additional funding to expand dual credit, Advanced Placement and other advanced
opportunities for high school students. This will build upon the current Dual
Credit for Early Completers Program, 8-in-6 and other statewide programs to fulfill
the Task Force recommendation for Advanced Opportunities.
Professional
Development:
The budget proposes $12.2 million in continued
funding for professional development for Idaho’s teachers. This line item
continues funding spent at the state level to provide professional development
on the Idaho Core Standards this school year and also continues to provide an
estimated $8 million to local school districts to buy professional development
days for teachers. This helps fulfill the Task Force recommendation for Ongoing
Job-Embedded Professional Learning.
The budget also proposes $300,000 in
continued funding for administrative evaluations and an additional $250,000 to
provide master calendar training to assist school administrators in creating
time for job-embedded professional development and collaboration among
teachers. These budget line items help fulfill the Task Force recommendation
for Training and Development of School Administrators, Superintendents, and
School Boards, and for Job-Embedded Collaboration/Professional Development and
Site-Based Collaboration, respectively.
Technology:
The budget proposes $13.4 million in
continued funding for classroom technology. Of this funding, more than $8
million is distributed directly to local school districts to spend on
integrating technology in the classroom, and $2.25 million is spent at the
state level to provide a wireless infrastructure as well as support and
maintenance for that infrastructure in every public high school. The remaining
$3 million has been set aside for technology pilot projects in Idaho’s public
schools.
School
Safety and Security:
The budget proposes $2.75 million in
funding for Safe- and Drug-Free School Programs. Of this, $2.2 million will be
distributed to local school districts to invest in Safe- and Drug-Free School
Programs at the local level. The remainder will be used at the state level to support
Idaho’s schools and districts and to implement the recommendations of the
School Safety and Security Task Force.
Continued
Work:
The budget proposes $300,000 for
technical advisory committees and a student advisory committee to continue work
on the Task Force recommendations. Several recommendations, such as the Career
Ladder and Mastery-Based System, will require additional work before they can
be fully implemented.
Superintendent Luna met with representatives
of the Idaho School Boards Association, Idaho Association of School
Administrators, Idaho Education Association, Northwest Professional Educators and
other stakeholder groups before submitting his proposed budget today.
This budget request will now go to the
Governor’s office for consideration. The Governor will present his budget
request to the Idaho Legislature in January. The Legislature will set the
budget for fiscal year 2015 early next year. Fiscal year 2015 begins July 1,
2014.
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