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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Idaho Ed Dept Disputes Funding Study

A recent report by the non-partisan research organization Center on Budget Policy and Priorities says education cuts in Idaho have been among the deepest in the nation over the last five years. As StateImpact reported last week, CBPP’s study shows per-student spending in Idaho has dropped 19 percent since 2008. Just three states have cut more. The Idaho Department of Education takes issue with these figures and spokesperson Melissa McGrath says CBPPs report isn’t an accurate measure. “The fact is the state hasn’t reduced education funding per student by 19 percent,” McGrath says. Here’s where it gets complicated/Emily Ritter Saunders, StateImpact. More here. (Molly Messick StateImpact photo: After the Council School District lost its shop program, locals donated time, goods and services to start it up again)

Question: Do you think public schools in Idaho are funded as well as they could be?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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