News

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

Business leader: Only 20 percent of students are ready for college

Idaho Business for Education report uses SAT cut scores of “500” on each section of the test to determine college readiness.

Supreme Court: Idaho Education Network contract void

Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling won’t affect schools directly, but it could cost Idaho taxpayers $25 million.

Education groups mum on Bible-in-school bill

Idaho’s most prominent education groups aren’t opposing Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll’s Bible-in-schools bill. But they don’t see the need for it, either.

Senate Education chairman kills his own bill

The Senate Education Committee continued to play defense Tuesday, as the panel’s chairman took the unusual step of killing his own bill.

JFAC calls for 6.8 percent increase in K-12 public school funding

Lawmakers say they could increase education spending even more if unsettled policy debates are resolved.

Handicapping the budget ‘trailer bills’

Will the Legislature fund the literacy plan — and other loose ends that didn’t make it into the K-12 budget unveiled Monday?

School elections changes are dead for 2016

Senators killed a bill to move school trustee races to the November elections — and a second bill to elect trustees across an entire school district.

Bible-in-schools bill will get a rewrite

The possible amendments could address other religious texts — and work around the use of the Bible in science classes.

JFAC drafting 7.4 percent K-12 budget increase

The budget committee will set the 2016-17 public school budget Monday. The bottom line could match the 2015-16 funding increase, but fall slightly below the recommendations of Gov. Butch Otter and superintendent Sherri Ybarra.

Charter contracts: a short bill, a heated debate

Charter school officials are split on a bill to rewrite the teacher contract process. Three powerful education groups oppose the idea.