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When special education isn’t fully funded, the cost doesn’t disappear...it gets absorbed by families, classrooms, and educators.

In this solo episode of The Purple Zone, I unpack what underfunded special education actually looks like on the ground: for students whose needs go unmet, for teachers navigating behavior and safety challenges without enough support, and for families trying to advocate for their children in complex systems they didn’t design.

Through two personal stories and Idaho-specific context, this episode explores:

• how funding gaps create real tradeoffs for all students, not just those in special education,
• why some families experience far more strain than others when support falls short,
• how unmet mental health and behavioral needs show up in classrooms, and
• what changes when schools have the staffing, resources, and partnerships they need.

This isn’t a conversation about blame; it’s about design. Special education is a legal mandate, but it’s also a shared responsibility. When it’s underfunded, districts are forced into impossible choices, families carry heavier burdens, and educators are stretched thin.

And yet, partnership still matters. When schools and families work together, especially in times of constraint, the experience for students can change.

If you want to understand why special education funding affects the entire school community, and why addressing it is urgent...not someday, but now...this episode is for you.

Because policy isn’t abstract. It’s personal.

Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/

JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.
email@thealexismorgan.com

Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
https://www.thealexismorgan.com

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The math ain’t mathing...and that’s not about blame, it’s about reality.

Yes this podcast has the words BUDGET, LEGISLATURE, DOGE, and GOVERNANCE...but I promise it's NOT boring--but rather something that is intended to help ALL Idahoans (and my friends in other states), understand and connect where you are right now--with governance choices.

Idaho is entering the 2026 legislative session facing a significant budget challenge. Alexis doesn’t attempt to retrace every step that led to this moment, but instead acknowledges where the state is now...shaped by recent fiscal choices, and focuses on what that reality requires going forward.

We look at how past budget crises were softened by federal dollars, why that backstop doesn’t exist this time, and how recent fiscal choices have narrowed the state’s options. We also unpack what “efficiency” really means in public administration, including the role of New Public Management, the limits of treating budget decisions as neutral or technical, and Dwight Waldo’s (public admin scholar) reminder that efficiency is never value-free.

The episode also takes a closer look at Idaho’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), its stated goals, its work over the past several months, and what its outcomes tell us about incremental reform versus sweeping change. Along the way, we ask a key governance question: if limiting government is a priority, what do rising numbers of bills and new laws actually signal about the size and scope of the state?

This is a grounded, nonpartisan conversation about budgets, governance, and accountability AND why acknowledging the past is essential to navigating what comes next.

Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/

JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.
email@thealexismorgan.com

Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
https://www.thealexismorgan.com

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Welcome to the first Purple Zone episode of 2026.

As the new year begins and the legislative session ramps up (start date is January 12) ... I’m sharing three important opportunities and announcements for Idahoans who care about kids, families, schools, and the policies that shape our communities.

First, we’re talking about Idaho PTA Day on the Hill, happening Tuesday, January 20, at the State Capitol. This year’s event includes a lunch with lawmakers and offers a meaningful chance to connect directly with the decision-makers shaping policies that impact our children...and all of us.
👉 Learn more and register at idahopta.org

Second, I’m announcing the launch of the Idaho Kids Impact Council, a new space designed to connect parent leaders from across the state through virtual conversations. These Zoom calls will bring Idaho decision-makers directly to families and communities, creating room to hear firsthand about the issues impacting kids and communities at the state level.

Third, I’m excited to share that I’ve been invited to serve as a public policy analyst for The Ranch Podcast, hosted by Matt Todd. Matt joins me for this conversation to talk about what this new role means and how it can help Idahoans better understand what’s happening behind the headlines. A Public Policy Recap. I'm so excited! So stayed tuned.

As always, I want to hear from you.
Send me a message if you’re interested in the Idaho Kids Impact Council, have questions about any of these opportunities, or want to share what Idaho topics are on your mind, because this show is always about seeing our state through the lens of policy, practice, and people.

Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/

JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.
email@thealexismorgan.com

Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
https://www.thealexismorgan.com