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

After 21 years of change, Balukoff steps away from Boise board

A new trustee will replace the accountant, businessman and two-time gubernatorial candidate. “It’ll be a little bit of a loss to be on the sidelines,” he said.

Study: Idaho teacher salaries rank lowest in nation

Idaho’s teacher salaries, adjusted for cost of living, rank lowest in the nation and come in 12 percent below the national average. That’s one finding from a larger national salary study from the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution.

Preston teacher pleads not guilty to animal cruelty

The Preston Junior High School teacher is accused of feeding a sick puppy to a snapping turtle. The case could go to a jury trial in October.

Twin Falls to hire 15 unarmed school security staffers

The $375,000 will come from a patchwork of one-time funding sources, and the district will re-evaluate the plan next year, the Twin Falls Times-News reported.

Ybarra won’t face fine over late sunshine report

The state superintendent could have faced a $50-a-day fine, but Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, a fellow Republican, decided to waive the penalty.

ISU seeks to expand on-campus dual-credit offerings

ISU launched the dual-credit program in the fall of 2017, opening classes to 12 high school students. By the spring of 2018, 32 students took part.

Party platforms differ on pre-K funding

During their conventions last weekend, the parties also approved wording on tuition-free college and the Idaho Standards Achievement Test.

Durst files for Boise school board seat

Durst served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2006 to 2010, and in the Senate from 2012 to 2013.

Two perspectives on the Hispanic college graduation gap

Only 12.7 percent of Idaho’s Hispanic adults hold a two- or four-year college degree, the lowest rate in the nation.

Idaho ranks dead last for access to pre-K

Only 32 percent of Idaho’s preschoolers have access to early education. Nationally, that number is 48 percent.