Fox Seeks School Accountability Law

Idaho Schools Superintendent Anne Fox wants troubled school districts to be accountable to the state, but critics of her proposed legislation say her office isn’t up to the task.

Fox plans to push for a bill this session requiring districts that suffer from chronically low academic achievement to write school-improvement plans and inform their patrons.

The bill also would require districts running budget deficits for more than a year to develop and implement a finance plan.

“The intent is to improve the accountability of a local school district within the framework of local control,” Chief Deputy Superintendent Darrell Loosle said.

But Senate Education Chairman Gary Schroeder said his committee likely will not consider Fox’s bill. Considering the tumultuous relationship between Fox and the state Board of Education, he said, “I question whether this is the time when the state wants to take over schools.”

Loosle said the Department of Education has no authority to do anything when districts have low academic achievement or budget deficits. Under Fox’s bill, the criteria for determining a low-achieving school would be defined by her agency.