GOP education cuts shortchange our kids and our economic future

By Lauren Necochea
Reader Contributor

Investing in our kids is how we ensure the next generation can earn good wages, build a strong economy and achieve an educated citizenry. And Idaho voters of all political stripes want strong schools, colleges and universities. But Idaho’s Republican majority is abandoning this commitment. While deep health care cuts may have dominated the headlines this past legislative session, the GOP also left growing holes in education funding.

When costs explode, flat state funding means cuts. School districts across Idaho are grappling with the impact. The Bonneville School District may eliminate dozens of staff and terminate a reading program. If Middleton’s levy fails again, they will lose seven teachers, eliminate 15 additional staff and forgo school security. Twin Falls already voted to cut about 20 staff. Other districts face similar consequences.

The Idaho Digital Learning Alliance offers remote learning opportunities for every child across the state. It’s crucial for rural students whose schools don’t offer specialized classes or dual credit courses that give kids a jumpstart on college and postsecondary career training. Republican legislators gutted it, slashing funds in half. That means higher out-of-pocket costs and fewer opportunities for our kids.

Some damage happened before the legislative session even began. Idaho has a $100 million funding gap for special education. Superintendent Debbie Critchfield proposed to close it by $50 million. It’s sad the state’s top education leader only wanted to solve the problem halfway. But she refused to do even this and withdrew the plan entirely. In the end, she backed a Band-Aid solution of $5 million in one-time dollars. Our kids with special needs will be back at square one next year.

High school seniors were slapped with a $10 million reduction to LAUNCH scholarships, which provide a pathway to in-demand careers. This closes the door to economic opportunities. Meanwhile, Idaho’s colleges and universities are absorbing a 5% cut, on top of years of disinvestment and rising costs. Increased tuition is making it harder for students to enroll. Layoffs, hiring freezes and fewer offerings are leading to graduation delays.

These cuts shortchange our kids and our shared economic future. And they are a result of Republicans’ insistence on cutting taxes for the wealthy and profitable corporations. All the while, the GOP refused to tap the state’s $1.3 billion in reserves and continued to spend $50 million on private school subsidies, even though the state can’t afford it. 

It’s no wonder House Republicans were a no-show for their press conference after the Legislature adjourned for the year. Who would want to answer for these actions? What we can do now is elect leaders who support education in November.

Lauren Necochea is chair of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former District 19 legislator. Necochea spent a decade leading nonprofit programs dedicated to research and advocacy in tax policy, health care and children’s issues.