Levi Cavener

Levi B. Cavener is a teacher living in Caldwell, Idaho. He blogs at IdahosPromise.Org

Idaho Public Charter School Commission: Tell us how you really feel

Instead of generating goals for charter schools, the IPCSC should make a goal for receiving training on Idaho’s Open Meeting laws. 

The State Board can keep my blackbelt and master educator premium

I won’t be applying for a bonus. Instead, I will spend that time working to improve student outcomes, not improve my pocketbook.

Proposed law is really a money-laundering scheme

The legislation is a blatant workaround that avoids both the text and intent of Idaho’s Constitution.

It is time to act on special education problem

Finding qualified special education teachers — particularly in rural areas — is just about as easy as electing a Democrat to a state office. Good luck! Our exceptional children deserve the best.

State Board: There are only 374 great teachers in Idaho

That shockingly small number comes from a deliberate calculation to make the process so overwhelming as to hang up a sign that reads “need not apply” for the bulk of Idaho’s teachers.

BYU Idaho shows importance of Blaine Amendment in LGBTQ firing

The Blaine Amendment is designed to protect citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars from subsidizing the churches and religious schools in Idaho.

It’s a master mystery for Idaho teachers

The master teacher premium plan, hatched to increase salaries for Idaho’s best teachers, has not been developed and a lot of questions remain unanswered.

Coming soon to a town near you: Charter school cronyism

When an out-of-state entity is in charge of an Idaho school and is also the recipient of a lucrative business relationship with the school, isn’t that cronyism? You know, favoring close friends, or, yourself?

Idaho: ‘Go-on’ and sign those ballot initiatives

The first petition proposes a modest increase on tobacco tax to generate revenue to lower Idaho’s tuition by 22 percent. The second initiative seeks to end tax exemptions coupled with reducing the sales tax to generate additional funds for our state’s budget.

Is Idaho prepared to fund a mastery-based learning model?

If the state is not prepared to write the check for necessary resources to support this shift in teaching and learning, perhaps it’s better we wait until we are.