Classrooms vs. extracurriculars: GOP leaders draw a line on political neutrality in schools If you squint, you can see it. The governor and state superintendent this week defended a proclamation encouraging students to join a conservative, student-led political club.

Aides for Little and Critchfield defended the Republicans after they caught flak for promoting “Club America,” Turning Point USA’s campaign to equip and educate conservative activists in high schools.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/cla...

Analysis: Inside the teachers’ union battle that split the Senate GOP At the last minute, lawmakers turned one education bill into a bill targeting teachers’ unions — defying one committee chair in the process. This could be a sign of things to come.

Analysis: At the last minute, lawmakers turned one education bill into a bill targeting teachers’ unions — defying one committee chair in the process. This could be a sign of things to come. #idaho #idleg
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ana...

Statehouse roundup, 4.1.26: IDLA, virtual school budget cuts clear Senate In other news, an eleventh-hour bill restricting teachers’ union activities cleared the Senate — after tense debate and over bipartisan opposition.

In other (almost) end-of-session news, an eleventh-hour bill restricting teachers’ union activities cleared the Senate — after tense debate and over bipartisan opposition. #idleg #idedu #idpol www.idahoednews.org/legislative-...

Idaho has $1.3 billion in rainy-day funds. Should that money help public schools? Republican Statehouse leaders say savings are meant for recessions, and spending reserves could harm the state’s credit rating.

Rainy-day funds would be a temporary fix to keep services fully funded after a string of tax cuts decreased state revenue.

GOP leaders say the money should be preserved for a recession and using it could harm the state's credit rating.

www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida...

Program cuts, staff cuts, furloughs: Education leaders say budget cuts would cause fallout The Legislature’s most powerful budget-writers asked state agencies to spell out plans for spending cuts — ratcheting up a debate that is dominating the 2026 session.

The Legislature’s most powerful budget-writers asked state agencies to spell out plans for spending cuts — ratcheting up a debate that is dominating the 2026 session. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/pro...

Update: Critchfield said no.
#idpol #idleg
www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

Analysis: One big beautiful budget battle begins — with education in the line of fire Step by step, legislative leaders are trying to dismantle Gov. Brad Little’s spending and tax proposals. Either way, the budgets are teetering — and if anything goes wrong, K-12 and higher ed…

The potential K-12 hit is part of a broader disagreement between Republican Gov. Brad Little and GOP legislators over how the state will handle declining revenue from tax cuts.

@kevinrichert.bsky.social lays it out in his weekly analysis.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ana...

Statehouse roundup, 1.29.26: Budget-writers drop K-12 exemption, tell Critchfield to prepare for cuts In other news, a new plan to adopt tax cuts from the feds’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” makes its debut — and this could further complicate this year’s budget.

From the Statehouse today:

State leaders have said for months that K-12 public schools would be exempt from statewide budget cuts.

But JFAC's co-chairs floated the possibility for the first time Wednesday in a memo to state supt. Critchfield. #idpol #idleg www.idahoednews.org/legislative-...

Statehouse roundup, 1.28.26: A bipartisan House group is working on a virtual schools fix In other news, the Senate is a step closer to voting on a bill that would move college and university presidential searches almost entirely behind closed doors.

In other news, the Senate is a step closer to voting on a bill that would move college and university presidential searches almost entirely behind closed doors. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/legislative-...

Idaho Supreme Court grills challengers of private education tax credit Some justices appeared skeptical that the Idaho Constitution prohibits the state from funding private education. INSIDE: Photo gallery.

Justices appeared skeptical of the argument that the constitution prohibits the state from funding private education. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida...

Idaho will participate in federal education tax credit, governor says The $1,700 credit refunds donations to organizations that offer students scholarships covering tuition, tutoring and other education expenses.

Also, Gov. Brad Little quietly opted in to a new federal tax credit that refunds scholarships for students in public and private schools.

The credit will "expand education freedom and the accessibility of educational opportunities,” his spokeswoman said.

www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

Statehouse roundup, 1.21.26: Critchfield plays defense on K-12 budget In other news, a bill requiring state and local K-12 artificial intelligence policies makes its debut.

From the Statehouse today:

State superintendent Debbie Critchfield mostly played defense as lawmakers questioned her K-12 budget. The wide-ranging JFAC discussion covered special education, public school fund balances and declining enrollment. #idpol #idleg
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

Idaho governor tells state agencies to coordinate responses on legislators', journalists' questions • Idaho Capital Sun Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s office told state government agencies how to reply to requests for information.

Today, an Idaho Capital Sun story detailed a policy directing state agencies to work with the governor's office before answering questions from lawmakers and reporters.

Then, a bill came to protect state staff who talk to legislators — and Democrats decried the governor's policy. #idleg #idpol

Statehouse roundup, 1.20.26: Tuition hikes are ‘on the table,’ State Board chief says In other news, Democratic leaders called on the Tax Commission to pause advance payments through the private education tax credit.

In other news, Democratic leaders called on the Tax Commission to pause advance payments through the private education tax credit. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

Governor, superintendent propose major cuts to state’s online learning platform Rural public school leaders say the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance is a “lifeline” for supplementing curriculum.

Gov. Brad Little proposed a 39% budget cut to IDLA, the state's online learning platform.

The governor's office says policy changes would "right-size" IDLA's budget.

But rural school leaders say the platform's virtual courses are a "lifeline." #idpol #idleg

www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

Statehouse roundup, 1.19.26: Budget-setting lawmakers settle on revenue targets In other business, the first bill before the Senate Education Committee could be a big one — addressing the search process for university presidents.

In other business, the Senate Education Committee will hear a bill on higher ed presidential searches Tuesday. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

I'll try to post more frequently on Bluesky this session. My replies and DMs are open for story tips and questions. But complaints should be directed to @kevinrichert.bsky.social

Legislature LEGISLATURE Education news, including daily roundups, from the 2026 session

We have a new "Legislature" tab on the @idahoednews.bsky.social website where we'll post daily roundups along with in-depth stories and Kevin's weekly analyses.

You can also subscribe to EdNews' Friday email newsletter on the homepage.

www.idahoednews.org/legislature/

A quick plug since I just learned #idpol and #idleg have made their way to Bluesky (sorry I'm late):

@kevinrichert.bsky.social and I are back at the Statehouse covering education policy for another legislative session.

Here's how you can follow along:

Idaho’s average teacher salary increases more than 5% The number climbed to over $66,000 this school year.

The increase is due in part to a minimum salary requirement increase to $50,252 this year, a significant increase for some districts that were paying as low as $41,500.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida... #teacherpay #idedu

EdNews’ education guide to the 2026 legislative session Key dates, committees to watch and ways you can participate in this year’s budget and policy debates.

The legislative session kicks off Monday. Here's our guide with key dates, committees to watch and ways you can participate:
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/edn...

The top five education issues EdNews will follow in 2026 The new year is shaping up to be another hectic one for education policy. Here’s what we’ll writing about.

Will public schools remain exempt from budget cuts?
Where can Idaho train new doctors to ease a physician shortage? Will private school choice pass constitutional muster?

These are some of the issues we'll be following in 2026.
www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

GOP leaders signal K-12 will be safe from budget cuts Democrats aren’t buying it. Also, Gov. Brad Little says special education funding is a ‘critical’ issue that will be addressed after the state budget is ironed out.

“The Idaho Legislature supports public schools and will continue to support public schools, and I have not heard any chatter of trying to back off of that position,” said Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert.
www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

Critchfield pulls plug on $50 million special education plan In other business Wednesday, the State Board of Education approved the first steps of a medical education partnership between the University of Idaho-University of Utah medical education partnershi…

In other business Wednesday, the State Board of Education approved the first steps of a medical education partnership between the University of Idaho-University of Utah medical education partnership. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/cri...

Some schools have yet to implement ‘harmful’ material library law Seventeen districts and charters answered “No” to one or more survey questions about whether their policies align with state law. Private schools weren’t included in the survey.

A few school leaders told EdNews that their policies hadn’t been updated at the time the Idaho Department of Education sent out its survey, but they have since been updated or changes are on the way.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/som...

Idaho’s new education tax credit has fewer reporting requirements than similar programs For instance, the new law doesn’t require the state to report how many recipients were already enrolled in private school. This data would help answer one of the most hotly contested questions surr…

House Bill 93 directed the Idaho State Tax Commission to report eight data points after the first round of private education tax credits goes out next year.

How many recipients previously attended public school wasn't one of them.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida...

Idaho immigrants detained far from home, and from their attorneys Many immigrants arrested at an Idaho racetrack are being detained in Nevada and other states, making it harder for attorneys and family to find them

My latest story digs into the immigration process and lack of due process offered to many of the people who were detained in the Wilder, Idaho ICE raid. People were sent to detention facilities in other states - making it harder for their families and lawyers to help them fight their detention.

Who’s who in the HB 93 lawsuit? Meet the plaintiffs and defendants Educators, attorneys, parents and politicians have picked sides in a lawsuit to decide whether Idaho can subsidize private education.

In September, a coalition of opponents sued to block the new program from taking effect. State attorneys are defending it, backed by supporters from Idaho to Arkansas to Indiana.
www.idahoednews.org/school-choic...

Middleton secures state funding to build new elementary school A state panel approved $11.1 million from a revived loan program. But there’s a catch.

After five failed bond measures, Middleton has secured state funding to build a new elementary school. But the district has to ask voters for a bond one more time before it’s eligible for the state loan. www.idahoednews.org/state-policy...

Governor’s midyear spending cuts could avert $79.9 million deficit A new forecast says the state will be in a budget hole as tax cuts and revenue shortfalls slash its bottom line.

Gov. Brad Little's holdback order attempts to ward off a deficit as tax cuts and revenue shortfalls spoil the state's bottom line. www.idahoednews.org/news/governo...