BOISE - All Idaho high school juniors can now take the SAT for free, state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna announced today.

State lawmakers in 2007 approved requiring completion of a college entrance exam by the end of the junior year as a graduation requirement, starting with the class of 2013; this year, at Luna’s urging, they appropriated $963,500 for a statewide contract to pay for the tests. More here. Betsy Russell, SR

Did you take the SAT? How did you do?

The federal government has received dozens of complaints about high schools all over the state violating Title IX. Title IX is the commonly referred to name of the section of 1972 Civil Rights Act passed by the U.S. Congress that guarantees equal athletic opportunities for boys and girls in schools that receive federal funds. The U.S. Department of Education isn't saying who filed the complaints, but it does say its civil rights branch is evaluating the claims. The complaint alleges that 78 out of 115 school districts in Idaho short-changed female athletes by not offering enough sports opportunities/KBOI Staff. More here. (SR file photo: Lake City's softball team rushes to celebrate their 2011 state championship win after Casey Stengel, No. 12, struck out final Timberline batter)

Question: Do you have female athletes in your family?

While parents are being told that kids are going to have to huddle together in rooms of 30-40 kids and while kids and parents are being told that favorite programs either have been or will be shuttered, millions of dollars are being squandered to satisfy the goofy provisions of collective bargaining agreements negotiated by schools boards with their local teachers’ unions. Even in this budget climate, school districts still allow teachers to get paid to attend to union business while on the taxpayer dime. Some teachers spend an entire school year receiving taxpayer-paid salaries and benefits without having to step foot in front of classroom of students/Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Reporter. More here.

Question: Are Idaho schools facing a financial crisis?