State superintendent Debbie Critchfield on Friday proposed an incremental change to the way Idaho funds K-12 public schools, with a focus on providing schools with more money for students who are more expensive to educate — like those learning English or students with disabilities.

Her proposal, submitted as part of a budget request for the state’s public school support program next fiscal year, would tie school discretionary funding to a weighted formula that benefits districts with high-cost students.

“This request acknowledges a reality educators have known for years – it just costs more to educate and support some students,” Critchfield said in a news release. “A move to this type of funding model provides districts with a per-student amount that more closely reflects the actual costs they’re incurring.”