Boise State University has been forced to shut down its Math Learning Collaborative, a once-thriving initiative that served more than 1,200 K–12 students and 200 teachers across 34 schools in the Treasure Valley. The closure follows a wave of federal education funding cuts announced by the U.S. Department of Education.
The program, launched with federal support through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, was specifically designed to assist students struggling in math and to support educators with specialized data and training. Now, with funding abruptly halted, its services have come to an immediate stop.
“It’s just a big loss,” said Michele Carney, a Boise State mathematics education professor who helped lead the initiative. “We were able to provide direct support and understand why students fall behind in math. Now that data pipeline is gone.”
The timing of the cuts could not be worse. The national grant supporting the program began in August 2023 and was expected to run until December 2025. Boise State was blindsided by the sudden termination, which has also left partner teachers unpaid for work they’ve already completed.
“We had to email them and say we’re really sorry—we can’t even pay your stipends,” Carney added. The decision has sent ripples through the educational ecosystem in the region, where many schools rely on external support to bridge learning gaps.
Related post: How to Prepare for the Ged| K-12 Schools
A Broader Blow to Higher Education and K–12 Support
This development reflects broader tensions between federal policy shifts and the stability of local education systems. The U.S. Department of Education’s recent funding reductions have already impacted numerous programs that primarily benefit underserved, low-income, and rural communities.
Cuts to departments like the National Center for Education Statistics further compound the problem, jeopardizing the data systems that help determine school funding eligibility.
In Idaho, the financial hit goes beyond this single program. Boise State and the University of Idaho each lost $2 million from their budgets in the latest state legislative session.
The state also considered—but ultimately rejected—a bill that would have redirected significant aid from four-year institutions to short-term job training programs, potentially depriving universities of tens of millions in student-directed funds.
Boise State plans to meet with state education officials to explore any remaining options for salvaging parts of the collaborative. However, without restored federal support, prospects remain uncertain.
“The future of the program is unclear,” said Carney. “It’s difficult to watch something that made such a difference disappear.”
Related blog Post: States Sue Trump Administration Over Abrupt Termination of COVID School Relief Funds