Idaho Education NotecardMay 11, 2018
This week’s education and political headlines:
Big-money race, small-change race. Since January, Idaho’s gubernatorial candidates have racked up more than $6.6 million in the runup to Tuesday’s primaries. By contrast, candidates for state superintendent have raised $45,392 — or $1 for every $145.90 in the governor’s race. More HERE. Among the oddities: incumbent state superintendent Sherri Ybarra received $1,000 from KHSE LLC, a shadowy Virginia PAC with links to national politics but no clear ties to Idaho or education. More HERE.
So, where do they stand? Beyond the battles over ads and endorsements, the candidates for governor haven’t been talking that much about education. But the winner will have a big say over education policy — and their positions on taxes and the budget will have a profound impact on school funding. In an in-depth Idaho Education News questionnaire, the state superintendent’s candidates spell out their positions on school safety, pre-K, reading instruction and more. More HERE.
Rethinking refugee education. With fewer refugees arriving in the United States — and fewer refugee students arriving in Boise — the Boise School District is rethinking its approach to helping newcomers. Borah High School will still offer a “bridge program,” providing intensive English instruction and extra support during the transition to a new homeland. But now, Boise is urging refugee students to stay in their neighborhood high schools instead. More HERE.
Tackling the go-on rate. As Idaho continues to struggle to get more high school graduates to attend college, a new state working group is meeting to start looking for answers. One possibility: ramping up the state’s college and career adviser initiative, a multimillion-dollar state undertaking. The working group will have recommendations by August, and as State Board of Education member Debbie Critchfield said Tuesday, “Nothing is preconceived.” More HERE.
A groundbreaking class of 2018. They are known as North Idaho STEM Charter Academy’s “trail blazers,” the school’s first graduating class of seniors. The seven graduates leave school with 381 college credits between them, and four leave high school with associate’s degrees from North Idaho College. Meet the seniors and see where they plan to go next. More HERE.
Kevin Richert is a reporter and blogger with Idaho Education News (idahoednews.org.) Idaho Education News is an independent news site focused on education policy and politics, funded by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation. Richert has worked in the Idaho news media since 1985, as a reporter, editor and columnist.
