IDAHO
Schools’ star ratings show improvement
Ninety-one schools — nearly 15 percent of the state’s schools — received the highest possible ranking in Idaho’s star ratings, announced Thursday. That’s an increase from 78 five-star schools a year earlier.
Little backs local control, dual credit programs
Idaho’s lieutenant governor told educators how they can contribute to economic development and helped IASA officials recognize the state’s top administrators, including Superintendent of the Year Wiley Dobbs of Twin Falls.
SBAC leader offers insight into new tests
Joe Willhoft, SBAC’s executive director, told education leaders to expect a longer, more rigorous test that could take high school students as long as 8 1/2 hours to complete.
K-12 interim committee sets first meeting
The House-Senate committee has a broad assignment to look at K-12 policy. But it will spend much of its Sept. 12 meeting drilling down on longitudinal data collection, a sticky issue for school districts.
Superintendents quiz Tom Luna
What did district superintendents want to ask the state superintendent?
Quarles named state’s chief deputy
State superintendent Tom Luna selected the former teacher, principal, superintendent and professor to assist with K-12 policy and practices.
First day is less than a month away
School leaders are back at work this week, attending local conferences in Boise. Find out when teachers and students in the Treasure Valley return to school starting in just two weeks.
Winning WiFi bidder touts Idaho, political ties
A centerpiece in the Education Networks of America bid was its work on the Idaho Education Network, a broadband connection project. But an undercurrent in the bid was the Nashville, Tenn.-based company’s connections in Idaho political circles.
New twists, turns in North Star case
Supporters of the charter school suggest the Meridian School District has a financial motivation to absorb another 965 students. District officials dismiss the suggestion.
Luna awards controversial WiFi deal
On Wednesday, state superintendent Tom Luna went forward on a multiyear contract to install WiFi service in Idaho high schools. Key lawmakers are questioning the deal, which could run 15 years; Luna says the longterm deal is routine and cost-effective.