Kevin’s blog

Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.

Otter pushes back — a little — against math bill

Gov. Butch Otter seemed to toy with vetoing a bill to waive a senior year math requirement. But the bill will become law without Otter’s signature.

Vick, Foreman decry higher education’s left-wing agenda

The two Republican senators voted against a $295.8 million higher education budget bill, now headed to the House.

Ybarra announces an unfunded $20.8 million school safety plan

State superintendent Sherri Ybarra won’t seek funding until 2019. She faces Republican and Democratic opposition in the 2018 election.

Senate hearing set on private school scholarship bill

The Statehouse hearing on House Bill 590 is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday. Public testimony will be limited to one hour.

Who’s in? Tracking the 2018 candidate filings

From now through March 9, we will keep a running tab on Idaho candidate filing. Check here for the latest.

AP: Idaho schools received $992,000 from NRA

All told, the National Rifle Association gave more than $7.3 million to U.S. schools and school groups between 2010 and 2016, according to an Associated Press analysis of public tax records.

Evaluations process shows improvement, State Board official says

In 2016-17, 56 percent of teacher evaluations fully complied with state guidelines, according to a State Board of Education review. The 2015-16 compliance rate was 51 percent.

Caldwell High School adopts, and revises, no-backpack policy

Before the Wednesday rollout, administrators changed their minds. Opinions on safety tactics are sharply divided.

West Ada yanks ‘Looking for Alaska’ from middle school libraries

The state’s largest district removed the best-selling novel after a parent complained about its language and references to smoking and suicide, spokesman Eric Exline told the Idaho Statesman.