Blake Jones

Reporter Blake Jones covers the politics and policy of Idaho's K-12 public school system. He's a lifelong Idahoan, and holds degrees in Creative Writing and Political Economy from the College of Idaho. Follow Blake on Twitter @jonesblakej. He can be reached by email at [email protected].

The Nate-Raybould battle nears a resolution: Election Day

The race for a Rexburg House seat is one in a batch of legislative matchups pitting hardliners against mainstream Republicans ahead of the May 17 Republican primary.

Critchfield, Durst and Ybarra’s collision course runs through local GOPs

In the fight for the Republican nomination to be Idaho’s next schools chief, local GOP central committees have served as both battlegrounds and campaign allies.

Read our state superintendent candidate survey

Here’s another chance to hear from the trio ahead of the fast-approaching May 17 GOP primary.

Superintendent candidates verbally battle for GOP nomination

Ybarra flexed her seven years in office, Critchfield struck at Ybarra’s lack of leadership, and Durst, again, portrayed himself as an outsider in the field.

May 9 update: Critchfield continues fundraising dominance in state superintendent’s race

The candidate and former State Board of Education President had surpassed $300,000 as of May 9.

GOP superintendent candidates to square off in televised debates next week

Monday’s debate will offer them formal chances to spar, with one-minute rebuttals built into the first of the two hour-long faceoffs.

West Ada to make full-day kindergarten free

With a state funding boost incoming, Idaho’s largest school district is dropping tuition for the program.

Schools hesitant to join Idaho’s health insurance plan with incoming funding boost

Administrators worry added funding won’t cover the cost of the state’s comparatively low-premium, high-benefit plan for all employees.

Little vetoes bill that would continue funding schools based on enrollment

While the state’s default is to divide up K-12 funding based on average daily attendance, the State Board of Education — comprised mostly of Little appointees — has voted to temporarily switch the state over to enrollment-based funding in each of the last two school years to delink school funding from volatile pandemic-era attendance numbers.

New full-day kindergarten bill fast-tracked through Idaho House

The bill would change how early literacy funds are distributed to schools, and add new transparency requirements to supplemental levy elections.