Voices
Congress must act to support public school options
The federal Charter Schools Program is the only federal funding source that supports the opening of new charter schools, and the charter school community is counting on Idaho’s Congressional delegation to support the expansion of charter schools in Idaho.
Teachers are at a breaking point
The career ladder and tiered licensure plan is not the answer. The bill makes teachers accountable for conditions over which they have little or no control. Tying student test scores to teacher pay is flat out unethical.
Career ladder will allow districts to keep their best teachers
Gov. Butch Otter says the teacher career ladder bill “represents two years of research, discussion and work by education stakeholders across the state.”
Top business lobbyist ‘slugs’ teachers
Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Larry Kenck says a leaked email from the President of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry gave Idahoans a look at the mean-spirited good ol’ boys system.
Teachers labor for choices beyond the union
The Legislature has done some fine work in recent years to get the schools less beholden to labor union demands and more accountable to their local communities. But it could do so much more, and it should.
Education is the key to Idaho’s future
Increasing investment in higher education at the state level seems like a logical step. But without hand-in-hand efforts to creating job opportunities, it may merely increase the migration of educated Idahoans to neighboring states.
School choice is good for families, children
About one in five Idaho students in elementary school or high school attend a school of their choice—whether it’s a public charter school, a district magnet school, an alternative public school, a private school or a virtual school online.
Encourage Idaho’s rise in school choice
The Gem State is being recognized as one of the top 15 states in the nation for embracing school choice and providing opportunity to students.
IETA supports funding broadband network
Idaho’s association for educational technology leaders is in favor of the state continuing to fund and support the Idaho Education Network (IEN). The concept of the IEN has been a positive experience for most school districts regardless of the contractual issues.
Focus on what’s working in Idaho classrooms
It’s frustrating to see others pointing fingers and jumping to conclusions about a system that is showing great promise. Instead of trying to make political hay, we ought to be working together to improve usage of the Idaho Education Network.