Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tom Luna today proposed a budget that would implement the first
year of the Task Force for Improving Education’s recommendations and increase
funding for Idaho’s K-12 public schools by 5.1 percent next fiscal year.
Superintendent Luna presented
his proposed budget to the Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee (JFAC) this
morning.
“I strongly believe implementation of the Task
Force recommendations must begin today. The budget I have put forward today is
a prudent plan for beginning to implement the Task Force recommendations and
putting Idaho on a clear path to improving our public schools so that every
child can graduate from high school prepared to go on to postsecondary
education or the workforce without the need for remediation,” Superintendent
Luna said.
The Task Force for Improving
Education met for eight months in 2013 and developed 20 recommendations to help
Idaho reach its goal for 60 percent of Idahoans, ages 25 to 34, to earn a
postsecondary degree or certificate by 2020. The Task Force recommendations
were published in September.
The 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.
The full implementation of the Task
Force recommendations will take five to six years. Superintendent Luna’s
request for 5.1 percent in additional funding would implement the first phase of
these recommendations.
Here are the highlights of
Superintendent Luna’s budget request for Idaho’s public schools in fiscal year
2015:
Teacher
Compensation:
The budget proposes $16 million in new
funding to implement the Leadership Awards portion of the new Career Ladder
Compensation Model for Idaho’s teachers, as well as a 1 percent increase in the
money that funds teacher salaries at the local level.
The Task Force developed a framework for
the 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. One portion of the Career Ladder is Leadership
Awards to be distributed at the discretion of local school boards.
Once the Career Ladder is fully
implemented, a beginning teacher in Idaho will make $40,000 per year and can
continue to earn salary increases based on experience, performance and other
factors.
Discretionary
Funding:
Superintendent Luna supports the restoration
of $35 million in discretionary funding for local school districts and public
charter schools in fiscal year 2015. Districts use this funding to pay for
utilities, health care and other costs at the district level.
Advanced
Opportunities:
Superintendent Luna proposes a $2.4
million increase 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 an
estimated $8 million to local school districts to provide professional
development for teachers.
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. In addition, $3 million
has been set aside for technology pilot projects in Idaho’s public schools, and
$150,000 is being used to develop an online course portal for parents and
students.
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’s budget
proposal will now be considered by JFAC. If approved, it will move to the full
House and Senate and need the Governor’s signature for final approval.
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