Idaho Considers Linking College Funding to Student Success

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho State Board of Education is considering linking funding for higher education to student success. The Idaho Statesman reports that the board is drafting a proposal for next year's Legislature that would weight college's needs based on educational outcomes instead of growth in enrollment or credit hours taught.

State board members say Idaho is working to increase the number of graduates from two- and four-year colleges and certificated programs in order to meet demand for more jobs.

The proposal will likely initially link funding with increased number of graduates. Board members don't yet have a specific number of graduates for each school. About 35 states have some form of outcome-based funding, where goal-based money is tied to some percent of the state's higher education dollars.