Legislature

Analysis: Boise State, and college athletics, become more of a political football than ever

Idaho’s athletic programs are facing external and internal pressures. Both came up at the Statehouse in the past week.

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.

Analysis: As the session continues, a semester of uncertainty unfolds on campuses

The funding picture for Idaho higher ed could become clearer  — and more grim — in the next few days. But the budget cuts are already affecting students and staff.

Public schools will be forced to cut budgets — even if state funding remains flat

Local school leaders hope to counter messaging from the Statehouse that they’ve been held harmless by the state’s tightening budget.

Analysis: Lawmakers show signs, maybe, of recognizing a special education crisis

After neglecting a $100 million budget gap — and the needs of 41,200 Idaho students — lawmakers have two relatively low-cost chances to put their money where their mouth is.

Analysis: No education program is safe this year, and that could affect students and parents

A $10 million cut to Idaho Launch could leave as many as 1,250 high school graduates on their own this fall. Proposed cuts to the state’s brand-new private school tax credit law could leave as many as 900 Idaho families out of luck.

Supreme Court upholds private education tax credit

The five-member court unanimously agreed that the Idaho Constitution doesn’t prohibit the state from funding private education in addition to the public system.

Analysis: It’s a higher ed session — and that’s bad news for higher ed

The latest round of proposed budget cuts would take a disproportionate bite out of a growing college and university system that can ill afford it. No other state agency has more to lose.

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.

Critchfield rejects budget committee’s request to plan for cuts

The Republican superintendent said she already “fulfilled the assignment” by making cuts to the K-12 budget ahead of the legislative session.