Today was the due date for candidates’ 2017 annual election finance disclosure reports.
And while at first glance there does not appear to be anything too juicy, the absence of some items is the real story.
Rep. Ronald Nate
Rep. Ronald Nate (R-Rexburg) has introduced a bill that would allow districts to dump Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and replace them with…well that part isn’t quite clear.
The bill doesn’t change the fact that Idaho has adopted CCSS as the state’s content standards. Instead, in a curious workaround, the bill’s text states that if Idaho embraces CCSS, then districts have the prerogative to express their displeasure of that decision by dropping CCSS and replacing it with standards of the local district’s choosing.
Continue reading
Wilder Supt. Dillon
You couldn’t blame even a well informed Idaho primary voter for failing to know that Idaho’s incumbent for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has a primary challenge this spring.
Jeff Dillon, Superintendent of Wilder School District, is running against State Superintendent Ybarra in the GOP primary. Or at least that’s what the Secretary of State says. Continue reading
Representative Llana Rubel is seeking a cosponsor for a bill that would raise the requirements insurance must cover for devices and services related to a hearing impairment.
Unfortunately for many struggling Idaho families, the cost of hearing aides, cochlear implant, and therapies can run into the thousands of dollars, and insurance currently either does not cover or does not entirely cover the cost associated with these. This leaves many kiddos attending our schools without the supports they need. Continue reading
The Idaho Legislature’s website makes it inconvenient to locate and message individual members of the education committees by requiring you to navigate to each member’s bio for the address.
Fortunately for you, I have compiled the list for you to use during the session. You’re welcome!
The Association of Education for Young Children published a new poll last week that leaves no doubt as to where Idahoans stand, in principle, to providing Pre-K services for Idaho’s children.
A summary: eighty percent of parents who have children five and younger support state supported Pre-K, and sixty-six percent of all surveyed registered voters, regardless of having young children, also support the idea.
In other words, it would seem that even in the conservative Gem State that Pre-K is not a toxic cocktail to discuss at the statehouse. Continue reading
As a parting gift before the new year, the Idaho Board of Education released a painfully grim picture for teacher recruitment and retention in its ironically named “Teacher Pipeline Report.”
That report details a current a woefully inadequate current mechanism to attract and retain qualified teachers in the Gem State that is anything but a pipeline delivering the necessary flow of new talent.
A few takeaways: Â One third of newly certified teachers in Idaho leave to teach in greener pastures outside Idaho; one in ten current Idaho teachers will call this year their last–much higher than the national average; of teachers quitting, three out of four are doing so before retirement age. Continue reading
All of Idaho's students deserve an excellent education.
Improving education for students, support staff, and teachers.
Corrupt Louisiana Politics
All of Idaho's students deserve an excellent education.
All of Idaho's students deserve an excellent education.
A blog focused on education and social justice research
All of Idaho's students deserve an excellent education.
Mostly Education; a Smattering of Politics & Pinch of Personal
A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes
All of Idaho's students deserve an excellent education.
All of Idaho's students deserve an excellent education.
The goal of NPE is to connect all those who are passionate about our schools – students, parents, teachers and citizens. We share information and research on vital issues that concern the future of public education at a time when it is under attack.
A site to discuss better education for all
Just a blog by a guy who's a retired math teacher
Idaho's Promise 