Monday’s meeting included plenty of debate and disagreement, but educational stakeholders and state officials both felt the session was productive and went a long way to clearing up confusion.
Supreme Court ruling could rekindle school voucher debate
The Supreme Court ruling centered on a church-owned playground in Missouri. Now, school-choice advocates want to challenge funding bans in about three dozen states — including Idaho.
Renovations on track for Alturas’ new building
The charter school’s move across across town in Idaho Falls is a step toward opening the doors to more poor and minority students.
Kevin's Blog
Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.
The latest SAT scores: Who’s up, and who’s down
AP: Balukoff considering another run for governor
Olson named interim superintendent in Coeur d’Alene
AP: Trump special assistant considers run for Congress
Education news from across East Idaho
Idaho Falls postpones its decision on a high school redesign project, an East Idaho credit union picks up the tab for unpaid school lunches and more than 20 schools and libraries get free drones.
Lawmakers call for rare summer meeting to address school accountability plan
The Legislature’s education committees will jointly meet because they have not been provided with regular updates on a plan to comply with federal education requirements.
SAT scores illustrate a college-readiness gap
Idaho wants to see more high school graduates go to college. But are they ready? The latest test results are not encouraging.
Voices
Educators, community members and students share their opinions about Idaho education.
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Ybarra unmoved as Idaho loses ground in school choice
The paradox of ‘grit’
State Board reaches out to disgruntled education groups
State Board of Education member Debbie Critchfield has invited education and community groups to an intensive policy meeting on Monday.
Boise teacher elected to president of the IEA
Kari Overall, an educator from South Junior High, will take over for Penni Cyr, who is retiring after six years serving in the leadership role of Idaho’s teachers union.
Funding formula committee resumes its long slog
The panel of 10 state lawmakers is staring at a huge task: unraveling and rewriting a formula used to carve up nearly $1.7 billion in K-12 money. Not surprisingly, committee members are in no rush to finish the job.
Ybarra releases latest draft of Idaho’s ESSA compliance plan
Idaho is on its sixth draft. The state faces a Sept. 18 deadline to submit the final plan to the feds.
Kevin's Blog
Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.
The latest SAT scores: Who’s up, and who’s down
Here are some facts and figures from the April 2017 “SAT Day” — when 19,323 students took the college-entrance exam.
AP: Balukoff considering another run for governor
Boise School District trustee and businessman A.J. Balukoff says he hopes to make a decision this fall. He was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2014.
Olson named interim superintendent in Coeur d’Alene
Former Boise Superintendent Stan Olson will lead the Coeur d’Alene School District through June 2018, while trustees search for a long-term successor.
AP: Trump special assistant considers run for Congress
Layne Bangerter is considering a run for the open seat in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District.
Voices
Educators, community members and students share their opinions about Idaho education.
Become a guest author.
Ybarra unmoved as Idaho loses ground in school choice
Too many Idaho schoolchildren are stuck in a public school system that doesn’t meet their needs. It doesn’t have to be that way — other states are working to solve this problem. Idaho should be doing the same.
The paradox of ‘grit’
Maybe we have to teach kids that asking for help is okay, that letting go isn’t giving up, and that sometimes the only pathway to peace might also mean coming face to face with our own shadow and embracing it with love, empathy and compassion.