Idaho EdNews Podcasts

Idaho politics is somewhat in limbo this time of year, and that’s certainly the case for Reclaim Idaho. The group has turned in its petitions in its bid to get its Quality Education Act on the November ballot. County clerks are reviewing the petitions, and it will be weeks before we know if the initiative…

The May 24 mass shooting at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school has refocused a national discussion over school safety and gun control. Mike Munger works on these issues on a daily basis. He’s the manager of the state’s School Safety and Security Program, which reviews safety protocols and procedures at Idaho’s public schools. This week,…

In 2021, in one of the hottest education debates of the year, lawmakers rejected a $6 million-a-year federal early education grant. A year later, what is the state of early education in Idaho? And how does the all-day kindergarten push change the landscape? This week, Kevin Richert interviews Beth Oppenheimer, executive director of the Idaho…

Idaho had an election Tuesday, and what an election it was. The mainstream Republican candidates won most of the big statewide races. But conservative Raul Labrador unseated 20-year attorney general Lawrence Wasden, and the right wing gained some significant ground in the state Senate. To explain it all, Stephanie Witt of Boise State University and…

We really are in the election homestretch. Primary elections are Tuesday. This week’s podcast guest is Rod Gramer — the CEO of Idaho Business for Education, and a longtime observer of Idaho politics. He talks about how these elections are different than what we’ve seen before: sometimes costlier, and driven by nationalized issues. Idaho Education…

We’re almost to primary day. The debates are history. The voting is underway. And the campaign ads are … everywhere. This week, Melissa Davlin of Idaho Public Television’s “Idaho Reports” joins Kevin Richert to talk over the landscape heading into May 17. Idaho Education News · Episode 53 Go to our Soundcloud page for other recent…

With the May 17 primary elections looming, we continue our candidate interviews with a Q&A with Gov. Brad Little. Kevin Richert interviews the incumbent about teacher pay raises, literacy, the Idaho “go-on rate” — and his refusal to debate before the GOP primary. Idaho Education News · Episode 52 Go to our Soundcloud page for other…

Several high-profile Idaho debates have fallen by the wayside in the past few days. (But not all of them: The three Republican candidates for state schools superintendent will square off twice next week.) To talk about this year’s debate no-shows — and to talk about what to listen for when candidates actually do debate —…

The May 17 primary elections are bearing down fast. And that means it’s the perfect time to break down the money race. Boise State University political science professor Jaclyn Kettler joins the podcast this week to talk about the dollars — and other election wild cards. Idaho Education News · Episode 50 Go to our…

The 2022 Legislature put an additional $104 million into teacher pay. And more than $180 million of new money into K-12 benefits. And an additional $46.6 million into literacy. Now, it’s up to school leaders to spend the money. To look at the implementation process, Kevin Richert interviews lobbyists from three of the state’s education…