Catching up at the Statehouse, 2.13.13

Two legislative items from Tuesday:

Early graduation. The Senate Education Committee OK’d Senate Bill 1028, which would turn a pilot early graduation program into a full-fledged program.

Under the Mastery Advancement Program, early graduates can receive a college scholarship worth 35 percent of the school district’s annual average daily attendance rate. The school district would still get 35 percent of the ADA. The remaining 30 percent would be returned to the general fund — making the program a potential money-saver for the state.

A 2010 law allowed 21 school districts and three charter districts to pilot the idea.

SB 1028, co-sponsored by Sens. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, and Branden Durst, D-Boise, would make MAP a statewide program. The bill now goes to the full Senate.

Cursive writing. This resolution is headed to the Senate.

The House OK’d House Concurrent Resolution 3, which would direct the State Board of Education to write rules that would require the teaching of cursive handwriting in public schools.

The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, passed 68-2. Democratic Reps. John Rusche of Lewiston and Holli Woodings of Boise voted no.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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