IDAHO
Opportunity Scholarship 101
It’s budget crunch time. Lawmakers are moving money around. What does that mean for college students and young readers? We explain.
Statehouse roundup, 2.19.19: Funding formula update; ISBA Day on the Hill activities
Education groups and legislators are meeting behind the scenes in hopes of introducing a funding bill by next week.
As other states boost pre-K funding, Idaho misses out on share of federal grants
The State Department of Education could not pursue a share of $241 million in federal grants, because it cannot use state dollars as a funding match. Idaho is one of only four states that does not fund pre-K, according to a new study.
Rapid fire: JFAC approves $1.9 billion in K-12 school budgets
Budget-writers agreed — unanimously — to put an additional $49 million into the teacher salary career ladder, and double literacy program funding to $26 million. The seven budget bills now go to the House and Senate.
State finds ‘financial distress’ at Blackfoot charter schools
A lack of “strong internal controls” of finances has fueled cashflow challenges at the schools, according to an investigation by the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.
Statehouse roundup, 2.15.19: Senate passes turnaround schools bill; rules fight heats up
Sen. Dean Mortimer’s voluntary turnaround bill now heads to the House, where a similar bill stalled out a year ago.
Monday’s big K-12 budget hearing: what to watch for
Lawmakers will make decisions that could dictate where the state’s public school dollars go — and set the stage for other spending bills down the road.
State Board approves University of Idaho president’s request for leave
The plan would allow outgoing President Chuck Staben to return to teaching at U of I in 2020 and earn no less than the highest paid full professor in the college.
Statehouse roundup, 2.14.19: Charter administrators bill heads to Senate floor
In other news, a Nampa student gets a hearing on a bill to give high-achieving students a more flexible high school schedule.
Sami Edge joins Idaho Education News
She will focus on reporting with an eye toward multimedia and storytelling innovation.