The Governor today presented a record-setting, giant check to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Capital High School students of the Capital Singers, representing the money distributed to Idaho’s public schools this school year.

The distribution for fiscal year 2022 for public schools is $54,798,000, which is more than $2 million than the previous year.

Total distributions to all beneficiaries in FY22 total $88,076,500, with 62% going to the public school beneficiaries. The distributions are the result of increased endowment land revenue combined with revenue from investments.

“Through timber harvest and excellent endowment land management practices, along with prudent investing, we are proud to be able to give Idaho public schools this record amount of funding,” said Idaho Governor Brad Little. “This speaks to the commitment of the Idaho Department of Lands staff and the Endowment Fund Investment Board who are committed and work hard on behalf of our children and the other beneficiaries. It also shows the Land Board’s commitment to education and the school children of Idaho.”

“These endowment distribution funds are critical to Idaho schools to support and improve our state education system,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra. “We want to thank our educators for their hard work and dedication this year and hope they recognize the Land Board’s commitment to continue these distributions to schools with our ongoing prudent management of endowment land assets and investments.”

The Land Board has approved an increase in distributions for FY23, with a 12% increase for public schools and an overall increase of 14%.
There are nine endowment beneficiary funds that include Idaho's public schools, universities, state hospitals for the mentally ill and charitable institutions such as the state veterans homes, the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind and Idaho's juvenile corrections system.
The Land Board is comprised of the Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Controller, and Superintendent of Public Schools.
Today’s presentation was held at the Idaho Capitol in the Rotunda.