Emma Epperly

Statehouse roundup, 2.20.26: JFAC approves tax conformity funding, rejects military scholarships In other news, a bill mandating a morning period of silence in public schools cleared a House committee.

Friday capped a busy week for spending and policy debates impacting education.

Read our Statehouse coverage here: www.idahoednews.org/news/stateho...

‘We would never recover:’ Kellogg schools face high-stakes levy redo Local leaders say art, PE, Marine ROTC programs and 70 jobs are on the line as they prepare to run the measure again in May.

Local leaders say art, PE, Marine ROTC programs and 70 jobs are on the line as they contemplate running the measure again in May.
www.idahoednews.org/news/we-woul... #idedu

‘We would never recover:’ Kellogg schools face high-stakes levy redo Local leaders say art, PE, Marine ROTC programs and 70 jobs are on the line as they prepare to run the measure again in May.

70 jobs are on the line in Kellogg after the district's first failed levy in 15 years.
www.idahoednews.org/news/we-woul... #idedu #levy #education #idaho

Statehouse roundup, 2.18.26: Committee rejects bill to tighten rules around K-12 spending In other news, the State Board of Education approved a medical lab expansion in the Treasure Valley.

Also Wednesday, the State Board of Education approved a proposal to expand medical labs at Idaho State University’s Meridian campus. www.idahoednews.org/news/stateho...

If you've got ideas, pass them along! This is going to be a fun feature.

50 years and counting … Twin Falls teacher has no plans to retire She loves school and she loves the kids. And she’s the longest active teacher in Idaho.

We just started our new series Teacher Feature to highlight the diversity, expertise, and ingenuity of educators across Idaho.

And I need suggestions for our next teacher to profile! Email me your ideas: emma@idahoednews.org

www.idahoednews.org/top-news/50-...

50 years and counting … Twin Falls teacher has no plans to retire She loves school and she loves the kids. And she’s the longest active teacher in Idaho.

It’s simple. She likes school, she likes teaching and she likes kids.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/50-...

50 years and counting … Twin Falls teacher has no plans to retire She loves school and she loves the kids. And she’s the longest active teacher in Idaho.

Mauna Eller has taught first grade in the same Twin Falls classroom for the last 50 years.

She's the first in our new teacher feature series:
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/50-...

Charter commission posts first annual report in years, renews 3 certificates Commissioners also revisited prior confusion over their approach to renewals from a prior meeting.

Since its last report in 2022:

8 charters opened.
3 charters closed.
1 school merger occurred.

www.idahoednews.org/news/charter... #charterschools #idaho #schoolchoice #idleg

Idaho’s graduation rate remains flat at 82.3% The state narrowly missed its goal of 82.5%, despite 21,809 students graduating on time.

The stagnation comes after a 10-year high in 2024 and breaking the state’s goal of 81.6%.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ida... #idedu #graduationrates #idaho #highschool

Statehouse roundup, 2.10.26: Launch fund transfers will cut student aid, director says In other news, a bill reforming state regulations for virtual schools is headed to the full House.

In other news, an attempt to repeal the Blaine Amendment stalls out on the House floor. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

Idaho expands mentoring program for parents navigating special education The state and advocates hope increased communication and peer support will boost positive experiences for families and kids.

The state and advocates hope increased communication and peer support will boost positive experiences for families and kids.
www.idahoednews.org/news/idaho-e... #SPED #Idaho

Idaho expands mentoring program for parents navigating special education The state and advocates hope increased communication and peer support will boost positive experiences for families and kids.

“I never want somebody, a parent, to struggle like I did to find the best pathways,” said Kristian Peacock, one of the first parent mentors.
www.idahoednews.org/news/idaho-e... #SPED #education #Idaho #IEP

Supreme Court upholds private education tax credit The five-member court unanimously agreed that the Idaho Constitution doesn’t prohibit the state from funding private education in addition to the public system.

The five-member court unanimously agreed that challengers failed to show the Parental Choice Tax Credit violates the state constitution.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sup...

NIC returns to full accreditation The decision follows a years-long effort from school leaders to return to good standing with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

North Idaho College is in good standing with its accreditor for the first time in three years, college leaders learned Monday.
www.idahoednews.org/news/nic-ret...

Statehouse roundup, 1.28.26: A bipartisan House group is working on a virtual schools fix 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.

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-...

CDA trustees discuss new policy to address racist incidents The district’s Safe and Welcoming Schools Task Force spent a year working on the new language.

The policy is the result of more than a year and a half of work by the Safe and Welcoming Schools Task Force.
www.idahoednews.org/news/cda-tru...

CDA trustees discuss new policy to address racist incidents The district’s Safe and Welcoming Schools Task Force spent a year working on the new language.

The policy is the result of more than a year and a half of work by the Safe and Welcoming Schools Task Force.
www.idahoednews.org/news/cda-tru... #idedu #racism #bullying #education #idaho

New opt-in law for human sexuality lessons prompts varied responses from Idaho schools One charter has sent hundreds of permission slips to parents. Others aren’t tracking them.

One school leader plans to ask legislators to change the timeline for permission slips to once a semester, instead of the week of instruction.

www.idahoednews.org/news/new-opt... #idedu

Idaho governor tells state agencies to coordinate responses on legislators', journalists' questions • Idaho Capital Sun Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s office told state government agencies how to reply to requests for information.

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

New opt-in law for human sexuality lessons prompts varied responses from Idaho schools One charter has sent hundreds of permission slips to parents. Others aren’t tracking them.

One medical arts charter school sent out 750 permission slips last semester- no families opted out.
www.idahoednews.org/news/new-opt... #idedu #SexEd #parentalrights

Top 10 lists: See who fared best on the new reading test INSIDE:

ICYMI: See the top performers broken out by charter schools, traditional school districts and online schools.
www.idahoednews.org/news/top-10-... #literacy #reading #idedu

Fall test scores show about half of young students read at or above grade level The results are the first from the redesigned Idaho Reading Indicator and show a drop from last year.

The test results are the first from the redesigned Idaho Reading Indicator.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/fal... #literacy #testscores #idedu #idpol

Fall test scores show about half of young students read at or above grade level The results are the first from the redesigned Idaho Reading Indicator and show a drop from last year.

Students took the newly designed IRI for the first time in October.
Instead of selecting from provided answers students read aloud from a computer.

Learn more here:

www.idahoednews.org/top-news/fal... #standardizedtests #literacy #thescienceofreading

Governor, superintendent propose major cuts to state’s online learning platform Rural public school leaders say the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance is a “lifeline” for supplementing curriculum.

Gov. Brad Little said his budget would protect “classroom funding” for public schools amid a statewide revenue crunch.

But this didn’t apply to online education. The Idaho Digital Learning Alliance faces a potential 39% cut.
www.idahoednews.org/legislature/...

West Bonner settles lawsuit with former superintendent Branden Durst The North Idaho district did not respond to requests from EdNews for the settlement amount.

The West Bonner School District settled out of court with former superintendent Branden Durst last month for an undisclosed amount.

Horman leaves a deep imprint, a complex legacy — and unfinished business For more than a decade, no legislator has put more fingerprints on education budgets — or had more of a voice in the private school choice debate. But Horman is leaves the Legislature to wrestle Id…

For more than a decade, no legislator has put more fingerprints on education budgets — or had more of a voice in the private school choice debate. Here's a closer look at Horman's career, and the work left behind. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/hor...

Set your alarm for midnight if you plan to join the race for private education tax credits The state money is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and the application window opens at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

The application window for the Parental Choice Tax Credit will open at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
www.idahoednews.org/school-choic...

Horman leaves a deep imprint, a complex legacy — and unfinished business For more than a decade, no legislator has put more fingerprints on education budgets — or had more of a voice in the private school choice debate. But Horman is leaves the Legislature to wrestle Id…

For more than a decade, no legislator has put more fingerprints on education budgets — or had more of a voice in the private school choice debate. Here's a closer look at Horman's career, and the work left behind. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/hor...

Kootenai Bridge Academy is an outlier, but school leaders say their model works They reside in a refurbished health club and go at their own pace.

Learn all about the Kootenai Bridge Trolls here:
www.idahoednews.org/news/kootena...