Issue Position: Quality Public Education

Issue Position

Businesses need a highly skilled workforce and well-funded research and development programs. We want to ensure our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to work and stay in Idaho to raise their families. It is important to remember that education funding remains $85 million dollars short of 2008 appropriation levels, and that local school districts continue to pass local levies to fund their schools. I am cosponsoring 4 bills that will put the 20 recommendations made by the Task Force in place. We know we cannot fund all the recommendations this year, but we can put the framework in place and begin implementation. I am advocating for a 2% increase for educators this year while we wait to enact the career ladder program. I am also one of the cosponsors for the 3 year pre-K pilot program. This bill will allow us to test the effectiveness of pre-k in Idaho with a minimal investment.

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