The Legislature’s most powerful budget-writers asked state agencies to spell out plans for spending cuts — ratcheting up a debate that is dominating the 2026 session. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/pro...

Update: Critchfield said no. #idpol #idleg www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

From the Statehouse today: State leaders have said for months that K-12 public schools would be exempt from statewide budget cuts. But JFAC's co-chairs floated the possibility for the first time Wednesday in a memo to state supt. Critchfield. #idpol #idleg www.idahoednews.org/legislative-...

In other news, the Senate is a step closer to voting on a bill that would move college and university presidential searches almost entirely behind closed doors. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/legislative-...

Justices appeared skeptical of the argument that the constitution prohibits the state from funding private education. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida...

From the Statehouse today: State superintendent Debbie Critchfield mostly played defense as lawmakers questioned her K-12 budget. The wide-ranging JFAC discussion covered special education, public school fund balances and declining enrollment. #idpol #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

Today, an Idaho Capital Sun story detailed a policy directing state agencies to work with the governor's office before answering questions from lawmakers and reporters. Then, a bill came to protect state staff who talk to legislators — and Democrats decried the governor's policy. #idleg #idpol

In other news, Democratic leaders called on the Tax Commission to pause advance payments through the private education tax credit. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

Gov. Brad Little proposed a 39% budget cut to IDLA, the state's online learning platform. The governor's office says policy changes would "right-size" IDLA's budget. But rural school leaders say the platform's virtual courses are a "lifeline." #idpol #idleg www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

In other business, the Senate Education Committee will hear a bill on higher ed presidential searches Tuesday. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

A quick plug since I just learned #idpol and #idleg have made their way to Bluesky (sorry I'm late): @kevinrichert.bsky.social and I are back at the Statehouse covering education policy for another legislative session. Here's how you can follow along:

The increase is due in part to a minimum salary requirement increase to $50,252 this year, a significant increase for some districts that were paying as low as $41,500. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida... #teacherpay #idedu

The legislative session kicks off Monday. Here's our guide with key dates, committees to watch and ways you can participate: www.idahoednews.org/top-news/edn...

Will public schools remain exempt from budget cuts? Where can Idaho train new doctors to ease a physician shortage? Will private school choice pass constitutional muster? These are some of the issues we'll be following in 2026. www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

“The Idaho Legislature supports public schools and will continue to support public schools, and I have not heard any chatter of trying to back off of that position,” said Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert. www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

In other business Wednesday, the State Board of Education approved the first steps of a medical education partnership between the University of Idaho-University of Utah medical education partnership. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/cri...

A few school leaders told EdNews that their policies hadn’t been updated at the time the Idaho Department of Education sent out its survey, but they have since been updated or changes are on the way. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/som...

House Bill 93 directed the Idaho State Tax Commission to report eight data points after the first round of private education tax credits goes out next year. How many recipients previously attended public school wasn't one of them. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida...

My latest story digs into the immigration process and lack of due process offered to many of the people who were detained in the Wilder, Idaho ICE raid. People were sent to detention facilities in other states - making it harder for their families and lawyers to help them fight their detention.

In September, a coalition of opponents sued to block the new program from taking effect. State attorneys are defending it, backed by supporters from Idaho to Arkansas to Indiana. www.idahoednews.org/school-choic...

After five failed bond measures, Middleton has secured state funding to build a new elementary school. But the district has to ask voters for a bond one more time before it’s eligible for the state loan. www.idahoednews.org/state-policy...

Gov. Brad Little's holdback order attempts to ward off a deficit as tax cuts and revenue shortfalls spoil the state's bottom line. www.idahoednews.org/news/governo...

Before Gov. Brad Little exempted K-12 schools from 3% holdbacks, state superintendent Debbie Critchfield asked school leaders to prepare for midyear spending cuts, kicking a hornets' nest of frustrations about education funding. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/a-s...

The State Board must release the names of finalists, per a state law. www.idahoednews.org/news/boise-s...

Clayton Strong showed up at the funeral home in Idaho, said he wanted his wife's body cremated, opened a lunch box full of cash and paid $2,310 on the spot, according to our reporting. Three months later, he was in another state and remarried. www.propublica.org/article/idah...

The new policy includes a review process with the opportunity to appeal an administrative decision on a classroom display. www.idahoednews.org/news/west-ad...

Trustees in recent weeks had considered cutting in half most fees for non-district students, but ultimately decided to eliminate them altogether. www.idahoednews.org/news/caldwel...

Analysis: After binging on tax cuts and tax breaks, Idaho appears to be teetering on a tipping point. A self-imposed budget crisis could be looming — and it could affect education. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ana...

The governor’s office Tuesday did not address the likelihood of holdbacks in the coming months. But Little's budget administrator said that “public education and teacher pay will remain the governor’s top priorities.” www.idahoednews.org/top-news/lit...

The complaint alleges that the Blaine Amendment — as applied in this case and on its face — violates First Amendment religion and speech protections. www.idahoednews.org/news/federal...

Claiming maximum $5,000 credits for each of the Spud Family’s two children would net a 32% reduction in its federal, state and local taxes. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/thi...

“I really don’t believe anyone learns unless they’re talking with other people,” said Steve Hauge, a longtime Caldwell High School teacher, who's retiring this year. “We don’t know what we don’t know until somebody asks a question.” www.idahoednews.org/top-news/cal...

In 2023, Gov. Brad Little and the Legislature invested $145 million in teacher raises, distributing an additional $6,359 in state funding per educator. www.idahoednews.org/state-policy...

“We deeply encourage members of the public to listen to negotiations and budget setting for our public schools,” said Misty Swanson, executive director of the Idaho School Boards Association. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/tea...

Analysis: Five years ago, education microgrants were a shiny new object. This year, Gov. Brad Little and legislators saw microgrants as a rusting relic that needed to be scrapped — even though they remain popular with parents. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ana...

In other news Wednesday, State Board members approve a possible name change for Lewis-Clark State College. And board members get an earful over a new anti-DEI law. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/news/u-of-i-...

The 89-day legislative session was a blur of activity — especially in education. Here’s what happened, and what you might have missed. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/wha...

Investigation: Emails between Kootenai County deputies and federal immigration agents show a coordinated effort to target undocumented people for immigration enforcement when they hadn't committed recent state crimes. My latest for @investigatewest.bsky.social

The 2025 #idleg is now a full Scaramucci removed from the original March 21 target adjournment date. Not that anyone's counting. #idaho

It's April and the #idleg is still in session. Here's what's happened so far today. #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

It's Week 13 of the 2025 #idleg session. And @ryansuppe.bsky.social and I watched it all so you didn't have to! #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

Gov. Brad Little issued his first veto this year, on a bill that would've banned medical requirements for vaccines, treatment or medication by Idaho businesses, governments and schools. The bill "removes parents’ freedom to ensure their children stay healthy at school," he wrote. #idleg #idpol

A new Idaho law deregulating child care facilities will drop Idaho's child-to-staff ratios from 41st loosest in the nation to 45th, an expert says. #idleg #idpol

In other news, the House passed a bill requiring schools to show videos depicting “early fetal development.” #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

In other news, a campus free speech bill is headed to the Senate floor. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/news/stateho...

Tromp, Boise State's president since July 2019, will interview for the position Tuesday and Wednesday. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/tromp-s...

The bill, which passed 46-21, would cut at least 10 Idaho seats from the medical education program. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/news/stateho...

Analysis: The WWAMI debate is about Idaho’s chronic doctor shortage. But it is also a juicy debate over politics, turf and market share — the quiet parts that a University of Idaho memo discusses out loud. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ana...

The report found that the biggest funding driver for public schools is district size, not student characteristics or needs. www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida...

During an emotional public comment period Wednesday, opponents said flexible ratios could lead to increased rates of neglect and abuse. www.idahoednews.org/state-policy...