Better Pay for Teachers, Stronger Classrooms, Safer Buildings, Help for Special Ed, and Kids Who Actually Learn
Idaho kids, teachers, and families deserve schools that work. Right now, too many kids are not mastering reading, writing, and math. Teachers work hard but face pay that does not always keep up with living costs, and shortages hit rural areas hardest. Classrooms often do not get enough of the money. Many school buildings need major repairs. Special education is short, about 100 million dollars. Our school funding formula is old and causes budget problems.
Some will criticize this plan. Unions may say it does not spend enough new money, administrators may call it too much accountability and micromanagement from Boise, and a few may say it does not go far enough on school choice or vouchers. I will address those concerns now.
I have no problem funding education. My problem is that we are not seeing results for the money we already spend. Idaho already spends billions every year, yet proficiency remains low, buildings need repairs, and too many teachers leave. These are problems that need to be solved. We fix this with clear steps you can see and measure.
This plan puts every existing tax dollar to work for kids instead of bureaucracy. It supports teachers with real incentives and reduced waste. It gives parents full transparency and a direct voice. It strengthens public schools while protecting charters, homeschooling, and private options. It respects local control with clear flexibility for rural and small districts. We need honest accountability, practical fixes, measurable outcomes, and a system that actually works for the children and families we are here to serve. This plan delivers exactly that.
We start with full transparency so every dollar is visible. We listen to teachers and parents through a real task force. We review spending to cut waste and protect classrooms. We pass rules that reward results. No new taxes. This plan uses powers the governor already has for quick starts, then adds laws for lasting change. It protects rural schools and delivers visible progress in the first year while building real improvement over time. If the legislature delays any bill, I will use every available executive and budget tool to move forward on transparency, pilots, and protections while I keep pushing the full package.
This plan is built so it cannot fail on delivery. It starts with steps you see in weeks and months. It uses facts from pilots and the Task Force. It protects rural schools. It delivers real improvements for teachers, kids, and taxpayers without new taxes. Idahoans First means our schools work for the kids who attend them and the people who pay for them.
The Problem
Idaho schools have clear problems that small fixes have not solved.
Teachers do not get paid enough to keep good ones everywhere. The average teacher salary is now around 66,000 dollars, but many districts still have trouble hiring and keeping staff. Rural schools have it the hardest.
Classrooms do not always get their fair share of the money. Idaho spends billions on schools each year from state and local taxes, but too much goes to administration and other costs instead of teachers, books, and supplies.
Buildings are falling behind. Experts say we need more than 1.3 billion dollars to fix and update them properly. Old roofs, heating systems, and safety issues make learning harder.
Special education falls short. Districts spend about 100 million dollars more than the state sends them to help kids with disabilities. This squeezes other parts of the budget.
Kids are not learning as well as they should. In 2025 tests, only about 42 percent were proficient at math and 53 percent at reading. Progress is slow.
The way we fund schools is outdated. The rules from 1994 cause automatic cuts when numbers shift. We have more data on Transparent Idaho now, but parents still cannot easily see exactly how much goes to classrooms versus offices or the condition of each building.
These problems connect. Low pay hurts staffing, which hurts learning. Without clear rules and open books, extra money does not always reach kids. Idaho needs real fixes, not more of the same.
What I'll Do Day One as Governor
A governor can direct state agencies, create citizen groups for advice, and set rules for how state money is used. Here is exactly what happens in the first weeks and months.
Day One: I form a Citizens Task Force for Education with 15 to 20 regular Idahoans. It includes working teachers (at least half the seats), rural educators, people who know buildings, special education experts, parents, and people good with budgets. They review the numbers on pay, spending, buildings, special ed, and test scores. They hold public meetings and give their first report in 60 days with clear recommendations, including a fair target for classroom spending. I will introduce legislation based on that report within 30 days of receiving it.
Within 90 days: I direct the State Department of Education and State Controller to put full details on Transparent Idaho. Every district shows teacher pay by experience, how much money reaches actual classrooms, building condition grades, and special education spending all in plain language with easy search tools. You will see it yourself.
Within the first six months: I launch pilot spending reviews in volunteer districts to spot waste in supplies, administration, and operations. Savings go straight to teacher support, classroom supplies, or urgent building safety fixes in those districts. Results are posted publicly so you can see the first redirected dollars. If pilots show limited savings, we still move forward with transparency and accountability while protecting current classroom funding.
Also in the first months: I direct the Department of Education to expand proven programs using current funds. This includes more targeted reading help in early grades, more career and technical classes for older students, quick safety checks on the worst buildings, and help for hard-to-fill teaching jobs.
These steps use only powers the governor already has. They cost nothing extra. They deliver visible dashboards and pilot results in months, not years.
How This Is Different From Now
Current efforts include pay raises, some facility money, and basic data on Transparent Idaho. Those steps helped but left gaps. Here is exactly what changes:
Current data shows salaries. We add classroom spending percentages and building condition grades you can search by district.
No waste pilots today. We start them immediately and show real money moved to classrooms.
No task force with teachers in half the seats setting public targets. We create one on day one and act on its recommendations fast.
No clear rewards for schools that improve retention and learning. We add them.
Rural schools get exceptions and extra help instead of one-size rules.
This plan gives you visibility and results you can track from month one. It is real accountability with quick starts, not just another report or small increase.
What I'll Push the Legislature For
Easy laws to make these changes permanent and enforceable:
Require districts to report spending clearly and work toward the Task Force recommended classroom target, with exceptions and extra help for small and rural districts.
Create a special account for building repairs and safety using savings from reviews where available. The worst problems get fixed first, with every project tracked online. Transparency and accountability move forward even if savings are limited.
Strengthen the teacher pay ladder with extra incentives for shortage areas and special education jobs, with priority for rural districts.
Close the special education gap with better data, shared services between districts, and targeted support, while requiring districts to report results.
Tie portions of future state funding to improvements in teacher retention, test scores, special ed services, and building conditions.
Mandate full integration of all school financial, payroll, facility, and outcome data into Transparent Idaho with plain English explanations.
These bills tie new rules to state funding so they are enforceable. They respect local boards while protecting taxpayer dollars.
How We'll Check It Works
You will see the progress with your own eyes:
Transparent Idaho dashboards update regularly with teacher pay, open jobs, classroom spending, building grades, special ed numbers, and test scores.
The Citizens Task Force gives public updates every few months with direct teacher and parent input.
Pilot reviews and audits show exactly where waste was found and where the money went.
Every year we release a simple report card that compares this year to last on every key measure.
If any area lags, the Task Force reviews it immediately and recommends fixes. The public sees the plan and the results side by side.
How This Connects to Other Reforms
This plan uses the same four pillars as everything I do. Audits find waste. Transparency shows every dollar. Citizen task forces give regular Idahoans a real voice and oversight. Smarter spending protects classrooms. When the whole state government stops waste, schools get better faster.
Answers to Common Questions
Will this raise taxes?
No. We use existing money better. Pilots prove it works before we expand. Transparency and accountability come first even if savings are limited.
Will this cost me more in property taxes?
No. The plan uses existing state and local funds more efficiently. No new taxes or forced levy increases are required.
What about small or rural schools?
They sit on the Task Force. They get exceptions for higher fixed costs and extra help during changes. No one-size rules hurt them.
Is this an unfunded mandate?
No. Everything starts with data and pilots under current authority. New rules tie to state funding and include transition support.
What if savings are small?
Transparency and pilots come first so you see the facts fast. The Task Force sets realistic targets. We protect current classroom funding while we improve efficiency. Savings simply accelerate repairs and incentives.
Will this hurt local control?
No. Local boards run daily operations. We simply require clear reporting and results for state dollars, with flexibility for local needs.
How is this different from recent pay raises and building money?
Recent steps were positive but did not include waste pilots with visible redirects, searchable building grades, a teacher-heavy task force setting targets we act on quickly, or clear contingency plans if the legislature delays. This plan adds full accountability and tracking so the money actually reaches classrooms and kids.
Will this strengthen parental rights and transparency?
Yes. Full Transparent Idaho dashboards let every parent see exactly how money is spent, building conditions, and program results. The Citizens Task Force includes parents and holds public meetings. We respect parents as the primary decision-makers for their children.
What about charter schools, homeschooling, or private options?
This plan strengthens public schools but does not harm alternatives. Charter schools benefit from the same transparency and efficiency rules. Homeschool and private families keep full freedom. Better public schools give every Idaho family stronger choices.
How does this affect teacher unions or collective bargaining?
It focuses on results and retention incentives, not union rules. Pay improvements and support come through efficiency and accountability, not new mandates on bargaining.
How will this affect teacher workload and burnout?
Targeted retention incentives, better classroom resources, and reduced administrative waste aim to lower burnout. The Task Force includes working teachers who will recommend practical ways to support educator well-being and manageable workloads.
Will there be more testing or changes to curriculum?
No new heavy testing. We shift existing tests from punishment to guidance for career paths and mastery. Curriculum decisions stay with local districts and parents. The focus is on basics (reading, writing, math) and practical skills, with full parental input through the Task Force.
What about student safety, discipline, bullying, and school climate?
Building safety checks are a top priority. The plan supports better data on school climate and encourages districts to use efficiency savings for stronger discipline policies, anti-bullying programs, and mental health supports where needed.
Will this support arts, sports, music, and extracurricular activities?
Yes. By protecting and increasing classroom funding overall, these programs benefit. Local districts decide priorities, but better efficiency means more resources reach students instead of being lost to overhead.
How soon will we see real improvement in test scores and student learning?
You will see transparency and pilot results in the first six months. Measurable gains in proficiency typically show in 1–3 years as teacher retention improves, basics are mastered earlier, and waste is reduced. We track progress publicly every step of the way.
What happens if a school district refuses to cooperate?
Transparency makes problems visible to parents and voters. State funding can be tied to compliance through legislation. The Task Force and public report cards put strong pressure on districts to improve.
Will this help gifted students, English language learners, and other specific groups?
Yes. Better overall efficiency and targeted supports (including shared services) help every student. The Task Force includes experts who will recommend ways to serve gifted, ELL, and other groups more effectively.
How does this plan address early childhood education or preschool?
The Task Force will review early learning programs and recommend ways to strengthen foundational skills before kindergarten using existing resources and proven methods.