News
The latest and breaking news and investigative reports about Idaho public education.
Boise: Ease off on Common Core testing
The Boise School District backs the new Common Core standards — voicing its support in a newly released white paper. But an aggressive testing schedule has district Superintendent Don Coberly concerned.
High school seniors earn college degrees
Nine students in Renaissance High School’s senior class are earning their associates degrees this week.
Find your school’s AYP status and star rating
(Updated Aug. 1, 2013) Idaho is at a crossroads for measuring accountability of its schools. The state has moved away from the Adequate Yearly Progress component of No Child Left Behind, which measured performance by the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), and created a five star system. The new five-star system is based on multiple…
Find your school district’s supplemental levy history
Idaho schools receive the bulk of their annual funding from the state, as outlined each year by the Legislature. Public school funding is the state’s largest annual expense — with $1.308 billion, or 47 percent of the state general fund budget heading to schools for the 2013-2014 school year. But if districts don’t feel that…
Step into Star’s ‘Magic Room’
Star Elementary has a fully equipped technology room for kindergartners. Teachers say they have see academic gains in these students.
A $50 million question awaits Vallivue voters
The Vallivue School District takes in much of rural Canyon County — yet it is home to Idaho’s sixth largest high school. The centerpiece of a $50 million bond issue is a plan for a second high school.
Blaine County pilots $249 mobile devices
Blaine County schools are piloting a program using $249 netbooks to see if they can be a cheaper alternative to full laptops.
Nampa’s deficit grows by another $1.2 million
Already facing a $5.1 million deficit — and the prospect of cutting dozens of staff jobs — the Nampa School District has uncovered a $1.2 million accounting error dating back almost a decade.
TV is still king for the youngest learners
A researcher for the popular children’s show Sesame Street was in Boise on Tuesday to share her studies of digital learning.
Technology lessons on the move
Tour bus takes science, engineering, math and technology to students. The bus spends a full day in the school parking lot where kids can enjoy a hands-on learning environment.