Kevin Richert and Blake Jones
Statehouse roundup, 3.7.22: JFAC endorses teacher pay raises, bonuses, literacy money
In other Monday Statehouse news, a House committee approved a bill to allow parents to opt their children out of school mask requirements.
Statehouse roundup, 3.2.22: JFAC agrees on a higher ed budget, but just barely
In other Statehouse news, Gov. Brad Little said he and lawmakers are “getting awful close” to a consensus on all-day kindergarten.
Statehouse roundup, 2.25.22: Senate passes rural teacher incentives bill
In other news, a divided House passes a $1 million budget for school arts grants.
Statehouse roundup, 2.23.22: Empowering Parents Grants bill heads to governor’s desk
In other news Wednesday, a new bill emerges to prohibit students from joining school clubs without their parents’ consent.
Statehouse roundup, 2.22.22: Divided budget committee OK’s education grant program
Legislative budget-writers agreed to put $50 million into the Empowering Parents Grants program. But Tuesday’s deeply divided vote suggests the budget could run into some resistance on the House floor.
Statehouse roundup, 2.18.22: Another education savings account bill comes forward
The ESAs would allow eligible families to spend around $5,950 per student on education-related expenses, including private school tuition.
Statehouse roundup, 2.16.2021: Powerball gets reluctant support in committee
Education has skin in this game: Over the next decade, Powerball is expected to generate some $200 million in dividends, which go to public schools, the K-12 Bond Levy Equalization Fund, and the Permanent Building Fund, which finances state and campus capital projects.
Statehouse roundup, 2.11.14: New bill would make enrollment-based funding shift permanent
MORE INSIDE: A bill restricting “repeat” bond issues is headed to the House floor, and a Powerball bill makes its debut.
Statehouse roundup, 2.10.22: Senate OKs $50 million education grant proposal
“We can invest in education by investing directly in our parents and our students,” said Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, the Empowering Parents Grants bill’s sponsor.
Statehouse roundup, 2.9.22: Mask mandate ban clears House committee
Favorable testimony included unsubstantiated claims about masks and the coronavirus that received no direct pushback. In other news, career-technical programs are in line for a short-term budget boost.