The Mountain Home School District has become the latest member of a coalition supporting the implementation of new Idaho Core Standards.

The coalition, Idahoans for Excellence in Education, started in July by the Idaho Business for Education (IBE), now has more than 20 members. The group includes business organizations, other school districts’ children’s advocacy groups and the presidents of the state’s community colleges and universities.

Mountain Home officials joined the coalition as a way to prepare students for life after graduation.

“The Mountain Home School District is working hard this year to implement the new Idaho Core Standards so our students who graduate from high school will be able to succeed in post-secondary education and the workforce,” Superintendent Tim McMurtrey said. “These new evidence-based standards are clear, understandable and consistent across the United States which help newly enrolled Mountain Home Air Force Base military students who transfer into our district.”

Members of Idahoans for Excellence in Education

• Idaho Business for Education
• Idaho Education Association
• Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry
• Idaho Parents and Teachers Together
• Treasure Valley Education Partnership
• Emmett School District
• Meridian Joint School District
• Boise School District
• Idaho State Alliance of YMCAs
• Micron Technology
• Idaho Voices for Children
• Meridian Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Idaho Leads Project
• Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children
• Idaho State Board of Education
• Idaho President’s Council (representing Idaho’s college and university presidents)
• Idaho Digital Learning
• Gooding School District
• The Idaho School Superintendents Association
• Catholic Schools of Idaho
• Idaho Charter School Network
• Mountain Home School District

PSAT testing set for Wednesday

More than 20,000 Idaho sophomores are set to take the PSAT test on Wednesday as part of the first state-funded administration of the test.

The Legislature set aside funding in the K-12 budget to pay for the test, building on the state’s program of paying for high school students to take the SAT in the spring.

Research shows that the PSAT can be a tool for preparing students for the SAT and life after graduation. According the State Department of Education, students who complete the PSAT score an average of 136 points higher on the SAT than students who do not.

Results of the PSAT tests are expected to be available in December.

Aerospace program accepting applications

Idaho juniors have until Dec. 9 to apply to take part in a program backed by NASA that focuses on STEM skills.

In its fifth year, the Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars Program offers students the chance to take an online course focusing on space exploration, science, technology, engineering and math.

There is space for about 200 students to take the course, which is part of a program developed by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and astronaut Barbara Morgan. The course itself was developed through a partnership between Idaho Digital Learning Academy and NASA’s Johnson Space Center. So far, NASA has committed $1.2 million to backing the program.

Students must maintain a minimum 2.7 GPA to be eligible for the program.

Call Pete Kavouras at (208) 332-6975 with questions, or download a program application online.

Blaine County updates website, posts Core survey

The Blaine County School District unveiled a new-look website at www.blaineschools.org. According to a district news release, about 250 educators created classroom websites and department heads created new pages displaying information for parents and stakeholders.

District leaders also launched a survey seeking parent feedback on the new Idaho Core Standards, which are being taught statewide for the first time this year.  Nearly 200 parents have already completed the short survey, and Blaine residents who have not yet taken the survey can find it here.

Idaho Falls students get political

High school and government students in Idaho Falls are taking an active role in this fall’s mayoral election. At 7 p.m., Oct. 22, students from Compass Academy will host a town hall style forum for candidates running for mayor. The event is open to the public and located at the school, 955 Garfield St.

Also on Oct. 22, mayoral candidates will meet with Skyline High School government students to discuss issues in the race and the importance young people understanding and taking a role in local politics.

Send us your news tips

Idaho Education News is seeking story ideas and news tips from school officials and parents across the state. To submit your news tip, send an email to editor Jennifer Swindell.