2019 Idaho Legislature
Statehouse roundup, 2.28.19: Charter administrators bill heads to House floor
House Education Committee members declined to delay a vote until they could read an analysis of the bill from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.
Independent report praises Idaho’s mastery pilot — with some qualifications
The pilot program has built a “solid framework” for mastery-based learning, according to researchers with Education Northwest in Portland, Ore. Mastery is one of state superintendent Sherri Ybarra’s top legislative priorities.
Statehouse roundup, 2.27.19: Questions remain as lawmakers ready a funding formula bill
Legislators could prepare a funding formula bill for introduction as early as Friday. Meanwhile, state superintendent Sherri Ybarra’s teacher pipeline bill makes its debut.
Sex ed opt-in bill attracts large crowd of opponents
The House Education Committee delayed a vote on the bill until Friday.
Statehouse roundup, 2.26.19: Guns-in-schools bill introduced
In other news from a busy Tuesday at the Statehouse, a two-year plan to raise minimum teacher salaries sails through the House, and budget-writers carve up a spending plan for Idaho higher education.
Statehouse roundup, 2.25.19: Advanced opportunities program could grow further
In other news, the House passes a bill to require schools and day-care centers to pass on immunization opt-out information.
Statehouse roundup, 2.22.19: Pre-K bill killed; charter administrator bill advances
In other legislative news, the Senate passes a bill to relax charter school administrators’ hiring guidelines.
Statehouse roundup, 2.21.19: Democrats introduce educator loan forgiveness bill
Meanwhile, a bill to allow Teach For America and other teacher preparation programs to seek state funding is heading to the House floor.
Idaho Opportunity Scholarship: Where the money goes
Students received $39.4 million in the state-funded scholarships from 2008 to 2018. And the students’ college of choice? It’s a close race.
Idaho’s literacy program: a politically popular work in progress
It is “extremely difficult” to measure the success of the 2-year-old program, Boise State University researchers said in a recent report. Still, Gov. Brad Little wants to double the program’s budget, and lawmakers are poised to sign on.