BOISE - Tom Luna, superintendent of public instruction for Idaho, released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2010, which includes teacher pay increases, and a renewed focus on math.

It also includes additional funding to address long-standing education issues, the state department of education said.

Luna requested $1.496 billion for public schools in fiscal year 2010, a 5.4 percent increase over the previous year. About 40 percent of the additional funding request will cover growth in Idaho's student population.

"Once again, I am requesting the Governor and Idaho Legislature to fund programs that will put more money directly into the classroom and focus on raising student achievement across Idaho," Luna said.

"This budget includes funding for classroom supplies and materials, advanced opportunities for Idaho high school students and increased pay for Idaho's educators. I recognize this will be a tight budget year and knowing this, I have submitted a prudent and responsible budget request."

Highlights of the FY2010 Public Schools Budget Request:

* Classroom Supplies: $5.7 million. Luna requested a 6.2 percent increase in funding for classroom supplies and materials in the FY2010 budget to accommodate growth in the number of classroom teachers.

In addition, the funding increase will also provide every school library in the state $350 per year to spend on necessary supplies and materials.

* Idaho Math Initiative: $5.3 million. Superintendent Luna requested a $1.3 million increase in funding over the previous year. The funding increase will fund: Professional development for teachers and administrators; Two additional regional math specialists; Intervention tools for high school students who struggle with math as well as high-achieving students who need advanced opportunities; Full implementation of the Primary Math Assessment in grades K-2.

* Dual Credit: $3.5 million. Superintendent Luna requested $3.5 million to implement a statewide concurrent credit program that will allow Idaho's high school juniors and seniors to take up to six college-level credits their junior year and up to six college-level credits their senior year.

The Dual Credit Task Force, which began meeting in July 2008, is working to develop a plan for statewide implementation and will present its recommendations to the 2009 Legislature.

* Gifted and Talented: $2 million. Superintendent Luna requested $2 million for gifted and talented programs, a $1 million increase over the previous year, to enhance the gifted and talented programs offered in Idaho schools.

The increase in funding will specifically help more Idaho teachers earn a gifted and talented endorsement and create regional gifted and talented centers for excellence, which will provide training and mentoring for schools and districts within each region. The request will also provide the first direct state support for gifted and talented programs.

Pay for Teachers, Administrators and Classified Employees: Superintendent Luna requested an average 3.5 percent increase in teacher pay, one-third of which will increase the base pay for teachers and raise the minimum teacher salary.

The remaining two-thirds of the increase in teacher pay will be used to fund a pay-for-performance plan for teachers, which will offer Idaho teachers the recognition and rewards they deserve.

Luna requested an average 2 percent increase in the base pay for school administrators and an average 3 percent increase in base pay for the classified staff who work in Idaho's schools.

Superintendent Luna also created a "super-classified" category for classified staff, which will give school districts additional funding to help raise the base pay for highly skilled professionals and managerial positions within school districts, such as human resource directors, business managers and IT personnel.