Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 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. He can be reached at krichert@idahoednews.org

Where are Idaho’s fall reading scores?

The State Department of Education has only released skeletal results from the fall reading test. The full data report is important, because it will allow parents and patrons to see how K-3 students fared in their neighborhood schools.

Superintendent Ybarra’s schedule: Nov. 11-13 (UPDATED)

State superintendent Sherri Ybarra has only one event on her weekly schedule: the annual policy forum for the Council of Chief State School Officers, meeting in Atlanta.

Supplemental levies and enrollment: crunching the numbers

How far does a supplemental levy go? The answer varies — widely — from district to district.

School elections: A mixed bag on levies, a spate of school board upsets

Lake Pend Oreille and Minidoka County voters narrowly passed supplemental levies, while Nampa’s supplemental levy failed by 11 votes. Meanwhile, incumbent trustees lost from Lakeland to Middleton, from West Ada to Teton County.

Hitler costume causes high school to reconsider Halloween tradition

“There is no simple fix to this,” Teton High School Principal Sam Zogg told the Teton Valley News. The student dressed as Adolf Hitler led around a classmate, dressed as a Jewish person, by a leash or rope.

Another year, another record: Idaho’s supplemental levy bill keeps climbing

Ninety-two of Idaho’s 115 school districts will collect nearly $214 million in supplemental levies this year. But the reliance on voter-approved levies raises nagging concerns about equity.

U of I faces a looming shortfall: $14 million and growing

Based on current enrollment and enrollment projections, the shortfall could reach $22 million by 2021-22.

Superintendent Ybarra’s weekly schedule (UPDATED)

State superintendent Sherri Ybarra’s office updated her schedule Monday morning.

Coming Tuesday: A first-of-its-kind school election day

For the first time, Idaho voters will elect school trustees during a November election. But many voters won’t even notice the difference, because most school board races are uncontested so won’t appear on the ballot.

The ‘nation’s report card:’ two very different reactions

The new National Assessment of Educational Progress scores debunk myths about Idaho’s schools, state superintendent Sherri Ybarra says. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos called the results “devastating.”