Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Idaho is at a crossroads on education. We are still about $100 million below our 2009 education budget, and there are 39 school districts that can't afford to operate five days a week. It is past time to get serious about investing in our education system -- if we don't act now we are at risk of leaving our children unable to compete for the jobs of tomorrow.

"Idaho is now 50th in the nation in family income and 50th in school funding. We need to change our strategy -- now. I believe the first step is serious investment in our education system, starting with implementation of the reforms recommended by the Governor's Task Force on Education."

Ilana supports:

* Increasing funding for education in all of Idaho;
* HB 504, which Ilana co-sponsored, to provide $16 million of premium pay to Idaho teachers that take hard-to-fill positions, take on leadership roles, perform extra work or bring higher training to the job;
* public early childhood education for those that want it.

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