Yes an optimist can have a glass half empty.
By Levi B Cavener
On Monday the doors will open to a new legislative session. It will be a cordial reunion in which freshman will try to be seen with the veterans. In the spirit of bipartisanship, democrats and republicans will mingle together on the floor while waiting for the Govenor’s speech. There will be an atmosphere of opportunity and hope that has been absent since the Great Recession struck the gem state.
National education blogger and education advocate, Diane Ravitch, posted Levi’s Op-Ed on TFA today on her website. Thanks Diane for including Idaho in the national conversation of education policy!
Are Idaho’s new physical education rules healthy?
By Levi B Cavener
In November of last year, the Idaho State Board of Education approved a new set of rules that require additional physical education instruction in Idaho’s schools. The new set of rules was a scaled down version of the original package and does not include a 2 credit PE graduation requirement. It does, however, require PE an hour a week for elementary students, and about 3 hours for middle school student every two weeks.
On the surface, this is great news. Every student in Idaho should have access to an excellent physical education curriculum promoting strong healthy habits. For the first time, students across the state will have equitable access to PE. Or will they? Continue reading
Is The Idaho Professional Standards Commission Up to the Challenge?
By Levi B Cavener
Idaho educational news made national headlines this year; as usual, it wasn’t because Idaho was touting how it’s educational policies have led it to be a top state in the nation in educating our students. Nope, instead Idaho was blasted over a case involving an ethics probe of an Idaho education teacher. Continue reading
By Mary Ollie
Today, we are seeing unparalleled and complex relationships between academia, foundations, corporations, and the media. Corporations and their non-profit foundations underwrite academic work. Entire departments or university chairs may be underwritten. In Idaho, the Albertson Foundation supports Idaho Leads at BSU, Centers for Innovation and Learning at NNU and U of I. What are the possible consequences of funding researchers and academic institutions? Could this color opinions? Continue reading
Idaho’s Promise is an organization that focuses on ensuring every student in Idaho is provided with a world class education, regardless of the zip code the student lives in.
Idaho’s Promise advocates for laws and policies that provide a first rate equitable learning experience for every student in Idaho’s classrooms. Current education policy has resulted in an unbalanced system in Idaho where students are not necessarily provided a uniform system of education as the Idaho Constitution requires.
Current issues of concern are an unbalanced system of taxation to fund districts, corporate ties to public charter schools, untrained professionals working with students as “highly qualified” instructors including Teach for America (TFA) employees, and corporate interference in public education policy through the guise of “philanthropy.”
This site is a platform to help encourage productive discussion, debate, and positive outcomes of education policy in Idaho.
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 