The best thing Idaho can do for its kids, its workforce and its economy is invest in early-childhood education, citizens told a state senate committee last week.

The array of presenters was diverse, including a longtime judge, a kindergarten teacher, the state’s lieutenant governor, a school superintendent and a bank chairman.

The “informational hearing” – there’s no bill – was a repeat of a similar one in the House Education Committee, but Senate Chairman Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, limited the group to just 20 minutes and repeatedly tried to hurry things along as questions from the senators stretched it out to nearly an hour/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.