If you check any local school district budget, you will see three main sources of money: federal, state and local funds. State funding can make up 60-75% of a district’s budget, depending on the state in which you live.
In Idaho, state funds are distributed based on a mechanism called “support units.” It’s a complex formula that takes into account attendance, grade bands, school size and type. In other words, it’s about the system much more than about the student. A new proposal seeks to change that.
Introduced by Sen. Jim Woodward and supported by Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield, SB 1096 would fund schools using a student-focused weighted formula instead of spending money based on the “support units.” This is somewhat like changing funding to a block grant focused on students giving schools more flexibility instead of using a complex and overly scripted funding focus on a “system.” This follows the principle of the education money following the child.
According to the statement of purpose for SB 1096:
“This legislation changes the distribution of discretionary funding to follow the student. The distribution is weighted based on verified student characteristics to recognize actual costs associated with the needs of different students.”
Superintendent Critchfield recently wrote an op-ed regarding this proposal. She said:
“In Idaho, about 60% of school funding comes from the state. The rest is a combination of local and federal funds. State funds are distributed by assigning districts and charters a specific number of ‘support units’ based on a complex formula that accounts for attendance, grade bands, school size and type . . . my proposed change is simple: send the dollars out based on the students that each district serves. This means every district or charter would get a portion of their budget based on the characteristics of that community’s students. I’m specifically referring to kids in special education, those who are economically disadvantaged, at-risk or gifted and talented. Under this new model we can have a budget that aligns with student needs rather than one built on averages or what a neighboring district or charter looks like.”
The Reason Foundation is among the advocates for a student-focused funding model for public schools. Reason wrote:
“Weighted student formula is a student-driven rather than program-driven budgeting process. It goes by several names including results-based budgeting, student-based budgeting, ‘backpacking’ or fair student funding. In every case, the meaning is the same: dollars rather than staffing positions follow students into schools. In many cases, these resources are weighted based on the individual needs of the student.”
Reason also created this chart to explain the different funding models:
SB 1096 starts the conversation to refocusing Idaho’s education spending on what’s most important: the student. In all cases, education spending should follow the child, whether that be in the traditional public school system, public charter schools, or providing parents more options with education choice programs.