Idaho considers linking college funding to student success

BOISE – The Idaho State Board of Education is considering linking funding for higher education to student success.

The board is drafting a proposal for next year’s Legislature that would tie funding to academic outcomes instead of growth in enrollment or credit hours taught, the Idaho Statesman reported.

“The Legislature and the public like to see the product of public investment,” said Blake Youde, the education board’s legislative liaison.

Gov. Butch Otter’s office said budgeting based on outcomes makes sense. Marilyn Whitney, Otter’s special assistant for education, said many recommendations from a task force on education are focused on outcomes.

“Frankly that is where you find the accountability,” Whitney said.

Idaho is working to increase the number of graduates from two- and four-year colleges and certificate programs in order to meet demand for more jobs. The board’s proposal will likely initially link funding with an increased number of graduates, said Richard Westerberg, a board member from Preston.

Board members don’t yet have a specific figure for each school.

In 2015, more than 14,000 students graduated from eight Idaho schools. At the current rate, the state will likely not meet its goal of getting 60 percent of its workers between 25 and 34 some type of post-high school training by 2020.