Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Debbie Critchfield is starting a new state special education program — while watching an overhaul at the federal level. They are two big changes — two important transitions — affecting special education services for roughly 41,200 Idaho students. And Critchfield, the state’s superintendent of public instruction, is also hoping to see a changing mindset on Idaho’s special education crisis. “For people that have been outside of the educational system for a while, I respect and can appreciate why this feels new and sudden. We haven’t talked about it,” Critchfield said in a recent Idaho EdNews interview. “I’m hoping that I don’t have to convince people anymore that it’s a thing.” No matter how things play out, Idaho is still going to face a serious special education budget problem.