Top News

Analysis: The day the 60 percent goal almost died

For 11 years, Idaho has said it wants 60 percent of its young adults to hold a college degree or professional certificate. Now, it looks like the State Board of Education wants to scrap the goal.

Tort claim prompted Marsh Valley trustees to pay off former superintendent

An email from the board chair to Idaho Education News explains the contractual payout. The board approved the payout in an open meeting but concealed its details from the public.

Grades drop in pandemic-altered school year

Nampa and West Ada school districts posted fewer “As” and more “Fs” but trends improved as students became more familiar with remote learning.

Little touts ‘incredible progress’ rolling out vaccine and fighting COVID pandemic

The state may soon clear additional residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but no date has been announced yet.

Districts face staff shortages with return to full-time

As kids return to buildings, administrators are looking to rehire — but struggling to fill low-wage positions when staffers could make more at Costco or Amazon.

Analysis: Idaho lands ahead of the national curve in the school reopening debate

While almost every district or charter in Idaho offers full- or part-time classroom instruction, President Biden has set a modest national benchmark: One day of face-to-face learning weekly. “I think that’s a fantastic goal, outside of Idaho,” State Board of Education President Debbie Critchfield said.

Girls basketball caught in crossfire of crowd-size discussion

State lawmakers are fighting to lift crowd limitations. The Idaho High School Athletics Association does not support the idea, at least for winter sports.

Boise stays in hybrid learning mode, to discuss opening schools next week

Vaccines, physical distancing, case rates, new virus strains and student mental health are all part of the exceedingly complicated arithmetic of reopening that Boise trustees pondered on Monday night. 

State commission disciplines teachers for spanking, slurs and sexual misconduct

The Professional Standards Commission revoked teaching certificates for an Eagle High coach who pleaded guilty to sexual battery and a Fruitland principal acquitted of misdemeanor sex crimes.

Analysis: A new flood of federal money makes a ‘good’ budget year more complicated

Educators are trying to figure out how to spend more than a quarter billion dollars of federal coronavirus stimulus money. The decisions could have long-term implications.