State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna  told the Senate Education Committee that since he first proposed his school reform plan last month, "We know that our economic situation is worse." Schools now face a possible shortfall next year of up to $80 million, he said. "Some people want to ignore the reality of this situation, this funding cliff that we all face, but it cannot be denied," he said. "The state is broke, our country is broke, and the current education system we have today is not financially sustainable. The status quo of our education system is collapsing under its own weight."

Despite huge cuts in education this year, Luna said, the problem has only worsened. "If we do nothing different, then we're going to face more of the same - in fact, it'll be even worse," he said. "We can no longer continue to go down this path."

Luna said, "poll after poll" has shown Idahoans don't want to raise taxes. "We can spend what we have differently to educate more students at a higher level with limited resources," he said, "and Students Come First is that option."