Rod Gramer

They are fulfilling the essential mission of creating a brighter economic future for our students, businesses and for all Idahoans.

Lawmakers should look at our high education institutions as the best investment to ensure Idaho and its citizens have a prosperous future.

They must make hard and difficult decisions on how to reopen their schools. Their decision is made only harder when people ignore the science and the health experts, leading to the surge we see now.

Education is an investment in Idaho’s future, one that will pay dividends for generations to come.

Here’s how you can help get computers to kids.

Instead, we should focus on closing the achievement gap between our Hispanic, American Indian and low-income students and their Caucasian and more affluent peers.

Just a few years ago fewer than half of our students were not prepared for kindergarten. Now almost six out of 10. Clearly, our state is moving in the wrong direction.

This threat is especially dangerous if our young people buy into this narrative. After all, it’s their future success in school, work and life that is at stake.

How can we help students get the skills they need to qualify for a family-sustaining job or build the workforce our economy needs if we can barely pass an increase in scholarships that make postsecondary affordable?

But accomplishing it will take bold leadership, further investment, wise choices and laser-like focus.