IDAHO
Four education issues to watch during the 2020 legislative session
Here’s a hint: Most have to do with money.
IEA announces abrupt leadership shakeup
Union president Kari Overall has resigned, due to unspecified “personal reasons.” The Idaho Education Association announced the shakeup — and introduced new president Layne McInelly — in a late afternoon news release issued Tuesday, Christmas Eve.
For kids and their parents, the reading journey starts and continues at home
Behind every score on the Idaho Reading Indicator, behind every intervention plan to help an at-risk student, there is a child’s story. And the parents’ story. Stories of struggles, successes and uncertainties.
Little embraces the literacy issue — for the long haul
Gov. Brad Little knows it will take a sustained effort to improve literacy in Idaho. But he says everything else in education will build off of it. “I can’t have them college and career ready if they’re not literate.”
Idaho schools recognized for helping at-risk students
All four schools are recognized for achieving high scores, or closing academic gaps, with a student population greater than 40 percent low-income students.
All-day kindergarten takes off in Idaho. Is pre-K next?
Idaho’s literacy program is already reshaping early education — changing the school day for thousands of young children, and offering new options to their parents.
Two years in, teachers are still learning about Idaho’s new reading test
By and large, teachers say the new Idaho Reading Indicator provides better data and timelier information than its predecessor. But some teachers and parents concede the online format poses problems.
Marsh Valley trustees secretly approve contract extension, pay raise for superintendent
The board chair justified the process, saying, “This is the same process the board has followed for at least 16 years.”
Young readers face demographic hurdles — some obvious, others subtle
“We can’t hang our hat on that we can’t get the job done because we can’t control the kids we get,” said Debbie Critchfield, president of the State Board of Education.
What’s working: Reading success stories from five Idaho schools
Some of Idaho’s reading success stories are unfolding in remote, rural schools. Scores are improving significantly. Student growth far exceeds the statewide rate.