schools

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Now that state officials have signed a $180 million deal to put laptops in the hands of high school students, the task facing lawmakers will be finding the money to pay for it. State leaders on Tuesday announced the eight-year contract with Hewlett-Packard Co...

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A former Idaho school district superintendent has filed a lawsuit against the state arguing public schools are violating the state constitution by charging students fees for what is supposed to be a free education. The Spokesman-Review (http://bit...

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A new radio advertisement from critics of Idaho's education reforms calls a laptop program being rolled out under the changes an "unfunded mandate" that will require schools to spend millions of dollars they don't have...

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A mix of large and small school districts will be first in line when Idaho starts phasing in  laptops for every 9th through 12th grader. The list obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press includes big districts like Meridian and Boise in southwest Idaho, though they'll be limited on how many high schools get the computer devices.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho's public schools chief has been named to a 19-member group charged with advising Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on education issues.

(AP) - Legislative budget writers have voted to boost state support for public schools by 4.6 percent next year while increasing the minimum teacher salary to $30,500, up from $30,000. The $1.56 billion spending plan for public schools in 2013 was approved Monday by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee...

Several school districts in the Magic Valley will be asking voters for more property tax money in March to help keep the schools in operation.  On election day, March 13th, the Kimberly School District will ask voters for a two year, $300,000 dollar annual supplemental levy.

The Buhl School District found out they are receiving a huge grant, totaling $100,000, from the Target Corporation and the Ellen DeGeneres Show. As part of a $5 million donation to K-12 schools, Buhl was one of two school districts and 48 schools chosen to receive the money.

Idaho plans to adopt a new grading system for public schools while seeking a federal waiver to get around provisions of the No Child Left Behind education law.  Under the state Department of Education's new accountability system, Idaho will use a five-star scale to evaluate and recognize schools...

State spending on public schools is in line for a $30 million increase under Gov. Otter's proposed budget for next year. Public schools chief Tom Luna wanted at least $60 million of a projected state surplus to go toward public education in the fiscal year that starts July 1.

State funding for online course providers would vary greatly among school districts under Idaho's new education changes.

It may come as no surprise that the Twin Falls School District is growing.  School Superintendent Wiley Dobbs reported to the school board Monday that there are more students enrolled in classes in the Twin Falls School District now than ever before, setting a new record at 7,912 students.

Public schools chief Tom Luna says education would get about a third of the projected $180 million budget surplus Idaho is expected to carry into the next fiscal year, under a spending plan he's submitting to the governor.  Luna told says he wants at least $61 million of the surplus to go toward public education in the 2012-2013 school year...

Idaho school progress stagnated last year, with only 62 percent of schools again meeting targets.     Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said he was pleased that overall school performance mirrored the previous year's figure, given that tight budgets could have led to even poorer math and reading test results.

Top Story Podcast 8/1/11: First hour - Debt deal...are you happy about it?  Also, Hot August Bite coming up Wednesday. Second hour - East End Update with Mitzi Cheldelen and Idaho schools are getting $60-million dollars more from the state ...

Idaho schools are being investigated for violating Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by allegedly not providing equal opportunities for females in sports programs.  What's your opinion?  Get 5000 Loyal Listener Points by participating in our Instapoll...

There’s good news regarding the state economy.  Final figures for fiscal year 2011 show Idaho came in with $85 million more in tax revenue than projected.  Much of the extra cash will be diverted to public schools and community colleges because of agreements made with the federal government to maintain school funding levels...

Up to 100 schools in Idaho, including 20 in the Magic Valley, are being investigated by the US Department of Education for possibly violating Title IX.  The local high schools include Burley, Canyon Ridge, Buhl, Declo, Carey, Castleford,  Glenns Ferry, Filer, Gooding, Kimberly, Hansen, Jerome,  Oakley, Murtaugh,  Minico, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Valley Wendell and Wood River.   The complaint alleges

Tomorrow is election day in southern Idaho.  Residents in several counties and school districts will be going to the polls to elect school board members, decide on municipal issues and supplemental levies.

There could be reason for cautious optimism for funding for Idaho public schools this coming year.  The Times News reports today that a report from the Idaho Division of Financial Management shows state revenues were up again in April, $13-million dollars more than projections.