Two weeks after Governor Little
state of the state address,
we're getting a first look at one of
his biggest ideas from that address,
the Idaho launch program.
That's the plan which includes
giving eligible Idaho students $8500
to pursue in demand careers after
getting a high school diploma or a
GED almost immediately following the
governor's speech in some cases,
as it was happening.
Questions about how it will work.
We're raised. Joe Parrish joins me now.
So, OK Joe, is every High School graduate
in the gem state here going to get.
8500 bucks to further their education.
So let's be very clear here.
This is not for every single
student in every situation,
but there is going to likely be
some grants coming out in 2024.
But let's, let's dive into this together,
because I think there's some information
out there that may be confusing people.
So here's what we know.
A bill was presented in committee this
afternoon by House Majority Leader,
Republican Representative Megan Blanksma.
And to be crystal clear up front,
this is not a Universal scholarship program
or really a scholarship program at all.
And this is a feature that is being.
Projected to begin in 2024,
now Idaho launch is a grant program
meant for targeted investments into the
career paths of Idaho students who are
looking to get into in demand careers or
careers that our state really needs more of.
Electricians, welders,
nurses, things like that.
Now.
Idaho launch is actually a
program that already exists.
It aims to help graduating high school
seniors to find careers that click for them,
and through it,
students can get training and
experience and careers that Idaho needs.
Representative blanksma details more.
This is a jobs driven program. This is not,
I want to learn about art history.
This is a what jobs are in demand in the
state of Idaho and this is our tax for
getting people who want those
jobs trained for those jobs.
There are a lot of jobs out there
that you don't need to college for,
but you do need specialized training
and they're in high demand and
that's what this is talking about. So
the new portion of this grant
is to the tune of $8500,
and that funding is through the
lens of workforce development.
The legislature set aside $80 million
just for this during the special
legislative session during last year.
So that money is for students that
aren't really interested in the
traditional postsecondary education.
Instead, maybe they're interested in
welding or electrical apprenticeships
or training something like that.
So if this idea passes as is,
students would use tools on the
Idaho launch site to connect
with in demand careers.
That they're interested in and
the idea is to get kids thinking
about what they may be interested
in pursuing specifically,
rather than just saying I'm going to
college and I'll figure it out later,
we'll see what I do.
And that's OK if that's your
educational path.
But this is a program for helping
students with non traditional paths
get some help financially with
training and skilled development
and some of those in demand.
Career paths are available through
local post secondary schools like
College of Western Idaho for example.
And Representative Blanksma
explains the process of the program
is being designed right now.
The application process is controlled
by the Workforce Development Council.
They're going to develop a an
application obviously. So.
So there's a hierarchy of needs on
how this works, right? First of all,
you have to have an in demand career,
next is financial need.
So the Workforce Development Council
will have to determine how that
works because there's no need for
a FAFSA like you would need if you
wanted to go on to one of the higher
end institutions at this point.
So, so there's some some development that's
going to have to happen over the next year.
Which is the time that we give
the Workforce Development Council
to develop the plan.
So think of the grants to those
students as an investment.
The state invests in students.
The payoff for the states
is the students get into
careers that Idaho needs.
Win, win situation.
It is a targeted investment.
Not only that we, we should have
a return on our investment right.
So if we're we're helping kids get to
the jobs that they want by providing
some assistance in their training.
They're getting into the workforce and
then they're paying it back to the
state by being part of a workforce.
And and so you get kids places they
want to be in jobs they want to have.
And I think that that needs to be one
of our it always should have been our
goal instead of just simply saying,
yeah everybody should try.
You know, to go on to college,
that's not for everyone and and we
shouldn't expect it from everyone.
It's great for some, but not for all.
And so I think this provides a
much broader pathway for students
in Idaho to to get the train they
want for the jobs they want.
So Brian, the Bills printed and we'll be
back for a full committee hearing soon.
I got two quick questions.
So this bill or these,
this launch program is for graduating I
Idaho High school seniors or graduating
I should say high school graduates.
And what about those moving in people
that say get here or maybe finish up
in a school in Washington or Oregon,
be like you know, I moved Idaho,
I'm gonna go there and try
to find a career there.
And the other part of that is do
those people who get this $8500
then have to I guess find a
job in that field in Idaho.
So there's a lot of intricacies
that are being worked out and will
be worked out over the next year.
Like kind of the blanket thing here is
this is for graduating Ice Idaho high
schoolers who are here in the state of Idaho.
They graduated from an Idaho high school.
They didn't just come in here after high
school in terms of getting that degree.
The they're getting that job
after getting the degree.
That's the hope and that's the idea.
We'll find out though. There's
no guarantee that that that they
have to stay here to do that.
Not that I'm aware of right now,
but that could change over the next year.
There's gonna be all kinds of
requirements and things that change
down there at the Idaho legislature.
And again, they're trying to
get this program out in 2024.