Idaho.

The article focuses on Idaho’s education funding landscape, highlighting that education consistently receives over 60% of the state’s general fund, with $3.47 billion appropriated for fiscal year 2026. Despite legislative efforts to improve teacher pay, early literacy, and school facilities through measures like the Career Ladder system and a $2 billion facilities plan, rural districts face significant infrastructure challenges and funding volatility due to reliance on average daily attendance (ADA) funding. The 2025 passage of House Bill 93 introduced a $50 million parental choice tax credit, creating a dual-track education finance system with limited accountability and raising equity concerns, especially in counties lacking private schools. Additionally, Idaho struggles with special education workforce shortages, funding gaps, and low per pupil expenditures, while higher education faces budget holdbacks, collectively underscoring ongoing challenges in balancing equitable resource distribution, infrastructure investment, and educational quality statewide.