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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.

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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.
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Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
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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

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Last Friday, Idaho school and community leaders were notified that a major federal education grant already awarded and already supporting students is being cut short.

The Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) State Scaling Grant, awarded to Idaho through the United Way of Treasure Valley, was designed as a five-year investment supporting 47 rural & title one public schools. That funding is now scheduled to end three 1/2 years early, putting more than $30 million in support and nearly 60 full-time positions at risk.

In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis breaks down:

• What the Full-Service Community Schools grant is and what it is not
• Why the community school strategy is an adaptable, locally led approach that works especially well in Idaho
• What’s actually behind the federal decision to discontinue the grant early
• What Idaho schools, districts, and partners are doing right now to appeal the decision
• And how parents, educators, and community members can help

This conversation isn’t about partisan politics, it’s about Idaho kids, Idaho schools, and Idaho communities, and whether schools can finish work that is already underway.

👉 Take Action

• 📄 Send/email an appeal letter: LINK TO LETTER
• 📊 Read the Idaho Community Schools Fact Sheet: LINK TO FACT SHEET

Policy matters, but people matter more. And right now, Idaho needs voices.

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

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Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.
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Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
https://www.thealexismorgan.com

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How does a bill actually move through a legislature — not in textbooks, but in real life?
In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis takes a deep dive into House Bill 41, Idaho’s 2025 “flags and schools” law, a bill that unexpectedly became tied to the now-viral West Ada classroom incident and sparked national debate about patriotism, symbolism, and expression in schools.

But instead of reacting to the headlines, we’re stepping back and dissecting HB 41 through one of the most influential theories in public policy: the Multiple Streams Framework.

Alexis sits down with the bill’s sponsor, Representative Ted Hill, to unpack how HB 41 traveled from idea → draft → committee → law, and how a viral moment altered the trajectory in ways no one anticipated.

Together, they explore:

• How the “problem” of flags in classrooms was defined — and redefined
• What policy options were on the table before the 2025 session even began
• How the West Ada sign incident transformed a local issue into a statewide flashpoint (The Everyone is Welcome Here Sign Topic)
• Why Idaho’s political climate made the bill’s momentum almost inevitable
• How media attention shaped not just perception, but implementation
• And whether the viral moment created the “policy window” that pushed HB 41 across the finish line

This episode isn’t about litigating the bill.
It’s about understanding the mechanics of how real policy happens: through the collision of problem definitions, political climates, ready-made solutions, and unexpected focusing events.

If you’ve ever wondered how a symbolic bill becomes a statewide law, or why certain ideas rise while others fade, this case study of HB 41 is a masterclass in policymaking in the modern era.

This is The Purple Zone — where policy, practice, & people meet.
Let’s jump in.

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

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Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
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What do a disappointed office-seeker, a presidential assassination, a reform act from the 1880s, and an academic essay from Woodrow Wilson have to do with your life today?
More than you think.

In this episode, Alexis traces the surprising story of how the U.S. moved from a full-blown spoils system—“to the victor belong the spoils”—to a modern merit-based civil service. You’ll hear how President James Garfield’s assassination jolted the country into passing the Pendleton Act, how Woodrow Wilson helped launch public administration as its own field, and why all of this matters right now as Schedule F (now Schedule Policy/Career) reopens the debate over loyalty vs. expertise in federal jobs.

This isn’t about which party is “right.” It’s about the kind of government we want:
One run by professionals?
One run by political loyalists?
Or something in between?

If you’ve ever wondered how civil servants actually got here—and whether we’re drifting back toward a modern spoils system—this episode is your roadmap.

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.
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Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
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Alexis sits down with Will Goodman, Chief Technology Officer for the Boise School District and a central voice in Idaho’s statewide conversations on AI in K–12 education. Will and Alexis serve together on an AI in K-12 Education Workgroup in Idaho, and in this episode, they dig into the real questions Idaho is navigating right now.

Together they explore:

• With 94% of Idaho students in public schools, what does “getting AI right” actually mean for an entire system?
• How schools can maintain academic integrity while using AI as a learning partner.
• What “Human → AI → Human” looks like in a real classroom?
• How to communicate clearly with parents about what AI is, and isn’t, doing in Idaho classrooms.
• What conversations parents should be having at home?
• How AI fits alongside Digital Literacy and digital citizenship.
• How Idaho’s approach compares to states like Colorado, Utah, and Georgia.
• How we’ll measure success: learning outcomes, efficiency, and equity.
• The cultural challenge of moving from fear to curiosity.
• Safeguarding human dignity and agency in an AI-driven world.
• What responsible AI in Idaho education could look like in 3–5 years.

If this conversation sparks a thought, concern, or idea—reach out. Idaho’s framework is a living document, and community voices matter.

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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Most people can name the President—but not their local city council members. In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis sits down with Matt Todd, host of The Ranch Podcast, to unpack what local government actually does and why it matters. From who really decides where roads go (hint: it’s not your Eagle City Council members) to how citizens can get involved at every level, this episode gets you started with Local Gov 101.

Matt shares insights from his conversations with elected officials, candidates, and civic leaders—offering real Idaho examples that bring policy to life. Along the way, a parallel to that unforgettable Schitt’s Creek scene: when Moira tells David to “fold in the cheese,” but never explains how. That’s how local government can feel...knowing it's there, but not knowing how to describe who does what and how.

Whether you’re a newcomer or a lifelong Idahoan, this conversation breaks down structures, responsibilities, and the small steps we can all take to keep democracy strong from the bottom up.

Because nothing changes unless we change it.

🎙️ A must-listen for every citizen who believes their vote...and their voice...matters.

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