As legislators who have worked in education for more than half a century combined, we give this year’s K–12 budget a D-minus. Since the start of the session, Republican leaders like Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon insisted public schools would be protected from cuts. Governor Brad Little reinforced that message in his State of the State address, saying that even with reduced revenues, schools would remain a top priority. Now, that promise is slipping.

In the budget committee, securing stable funding for K–12 education has been an uphill battle. Efforts to protect schools from harmful reductions have repeatedly fallen short, blocked by a supermajority unwilling to break ranks.

Take career technical education programs. A recent vote proposes cutting $4 million, a reduction that could affect programs in up to 164 school districts. That means fewer chances for students to gain real-world skills in high-demand fields. The student who dreams of working in computer science at Micron may lose access to a coding course. Another who hopes to fast-track a nursing career through dual credit and hands-on training could see that pathway disappear.

Career technical education takes resources, but it prepares students for well-paying, in-demand careers that support growth and strengthen local communities. Cutting these programs may balance a spreadsheet, but it undercuts Idaho’s economic needs.

Rural Idaho is at risk as key resources are on the chopping block. The Idaho Digital Learning Academy is a lifeline for many rural schools. It provides access to Advanced Placement classes, upper-level math like calculus, foreign languages, computer science, and career-focused courses that small districts often cannot staff. For many students, it is the only way to take advanced science, dual credit classes, or electives that prepare them for college or technical training. Yet nearly 40% of its budget is on the chopping block.

The same is true for students with hearing and vision loss. The budget committee received a request from Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind to replace a 22-year-old braille embosser. It breaks down often. When it does, the school cannot produce braille materials for schools and families across the state until parts are found. The cost is $33,500. That request, along with countless others, is unlikely to make it out of the budget committee.

It’s not just new problems being created; long-festering ones are still being ignored. Idaho faces a $100 million gap between what school districts spend on special education and what they receive from the state. The state’s outdated attendance-based funding formula automatically reduced K–12 budgets by $22.3 million this year. On top of that, a $9 million shortfall in state health insurance support is shifting additional costs onto 149 school districts. Each of these pressures compounds the strain on classrooms already working to do more with less.

Idahoans consistently rank public education among their highest priorities. It is time for Republican leaders to reflect that commitment in budget decisions. Cutting or underfunding K–12 education today weakens the foundation of our economy, our workforce, and our communities for years to come.

If Idaho wants top results, it has to do the work. This budget is not an “A” effort, or even a passing one. It is a D-minus, and our students deserve better.