State superintendent Debbie Critchfield wants $50 million to cut into Idaho’s special education budget gap.

The grant program is the one big-ticket item in Critchfield’s 2026-27 budget request, submitted to Gov. Brad Little Friday. The budget would push general fund K-12 spending above the $3 billion mark for the first time in state history, an 8.9% increase.

But most of this 8.9% increase would meet Idaho’s legal obligations — covering, for example, teacher pay raises spelled out in state law — or cover increased health insurance costs. This week, two of Critchfield’s top aides said the special education line item is the sole increase in a hold-the-line budget.

“This is the one area that deserves the Legislature’s attention, the governor’s attention,” said Greg Wilson, Critchfield’s ch

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