News

The latest and breaking news and investigative reports about Idaho public education.

Otter signs literacy bills, downplays funding gap

Gov. Butch Otter sought $10.7 million for the literacy initiative — but promised to get results with the $9.1 million in the works.

House passes Ybarra’s rural schools bill

Statehouse roundup, 3.23.16: After a divided House vote, the rural bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. The House passes other late-session bills that will get a Senate hearing.

Rapid fire: Senate passes seven K-12 budgets

The bills now head to Gov. Butch Otter. On Tuesday, Otter expressed disappointment with the spending plan.

JFAC earmarks $8 million for broadband settlements

House Speaker Scott Bedke and Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill hope to use the money to strike a deal with two Idaho Education Network vendors.

Student mobility bill runs into a roadblock

Statehouse roundup, 3.22.16: Two end-of-session teacher premium bills head to the House for a vote.

House passes Bible-in-schools bill

The Bible bill passed mostly along party lines, although two Republicans and one Democrat broke ranks with their party.

House overwhelmingly passes school budgets

School budget would increase state spending by 6.8 percent, raise teacher pay again and restore cuts to school districts’ operations budgets.

Going-home bill? Another tax cut heads to the House floor

Statehouse roundup, 3.21.16: An estimated $16 million tax cut surfaces, and the House takes another stab at a student mobility bill.

Ybarra makes last-minute push for rural schools center

Statehouse roundup, 3.18.16: Rural schools bill is on a legislative fast track, while a boost in college scholarships heads to Gov. Butch Otter’s desk.