When the legislature comes back from its COVID-induced recess on April 6th, there are a number of big issues left to address. One that has prompted a lot of discussion in the legislature and the community is the budget for Idaho’s higher education institutes, after several conservative House members expressed concern and anger over so-called social justice programs and curriculum at Idaho’s public universities.

Senator Carl Crabtree sits on both the joint budget committee and Senate Education Committee, and carried the higher education budget on the Senate floor in March. On Thursday, he joined Melissa Davlin to discuss that budget, and whether he thinks it will pass the House.

Public schools are also facing challenges, especially with Idaho’s youngest students. The state has long struggled to get elementary reading scores up, and additional funding often relies on local property taxes instead of the state. Davlin also asked Sen. Crabtree about policy changes the legislature could make to improve education in Idaho and what he believed needed to be done this year.