News

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

Judge gives Nampa district borrowing authority

As the Nampa School District wrestles a $4.3 million shortfall, a judge allows administrators to borrow to pay the district’s ongoing bills.

Second listening session scheduled

Members of the House and Senate Education Committees schedule second listening session for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11, in the Senate Auditorium.

Otter: lawmakers obligated to consider labor bills

Governor says education legislation is still feasible this session — if lawmakers can find consensus. “The proof in the pudding in consensus is going to be the vote on the floor.”

Two themes dominate ‘listening session’

50 people spoke during Friday’s 2 1/2-hour hearing.

K-12’s stake in the tax debate of the year

Gov. Butch Otter wants to repeal the personal property tax, an unpopular tax levied on business equipment and supplies. Some key legislators and lobbyists are on board. For K-12, an estimated $38.6 million is on the line.

Study: Idaho charter law trails other states

Idaho’s charter school growth is lagging — and according to a new study, that may reflect weakenesses in the state’s 15-year-old charter law.

House prints three more bills with SCF elements

The House Education Committee voted to introduce three more collective bargaining and labor bills presented by the Idaho School Boards Association.

ISBA collective bargaining bills introduced

Senate Education Committee Chairman John Goedde calls the bills a “toned-down” rewrite of Students Come First’s collective bargaining language. Sen. Branden Durst, D-Boise, called it “Luna laws (version) 2.0.”

Best practices presented to task force

The Education Task Force spent the morning listening to local and national experts talk about what works in education. The task force then spent the afternoon in five working groups, brainstorming ideas for improving student achievement.