Sometimes legislation can be very difficult to understand. This wasn't one of those times.
Idaho's state House has approved perhaps the simplest bill introduced this legislative session. The measure - House Bill 416, introduced by Representative Kyle Harris, requires money distributed to school districts or charter schools to be spent... where they are supposed to be spent.
From the bill:
A simple concept, to be sure, and one that should not be controversial. But approval of the legislation wasn't unanimous. Some legislators argued that school districts should have the flexibility to spend funds differently. One lawmaker called it "disrespectful" to local school leaders.
The confusion over school district budgets and school funding is not new. In fact, with billions of dollars at stake, even some school district leaders may struggle to tell you exactly where the dollars are going.
Unfortunately, school district budgets are a maze of jargon and information that is also not easily understandable by the general public.
In addition to H416, lawmakers have the ability to improve transparency and give parents and taxpayers a clearer understanding of what is happening in public schools. In doing so, they can help school districts be committed to increasing educational opportunities for all children.
A Public School Transparency Act (PSTA) - an MSPC idea and policy recommendation - would help taxpayers and parents determine whether their local district has enough funds and whether it is properly spending the cash in the classroom.
The concept is simple: every school district should report the same data on page one of their budgets, and on their website. By doing so, parents and members of the community could clearly understand budget details and be able to compare district to district.
Reported items should include:
1. Amount of total dollars (all funds – local, state and federal) spent by the district that year
2. Amount of total dollars spent per student, per year
3. Amount & percentage of total dollars allocated to average classroom
4. Average administrator salary & benefits
5. Average teacher salary & benefits
6. Ratio of administrators to teachers to students
Some schools may go further, reporting student outcomes, teacher retention rates and more.
A 2024 Mountain States Policy Center poll found strong support for a Public School Transparency Act in Idaho - 82% support.
As we wait for legislative action, Mountain States Policy Center will publish the first edition of the Public School Transparency Index this April. The data contained in the report comes directly from state and district resources, reports and budgets.
