Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Eye on Boise: Cigarette tax hike quickly stubbed out

  March 18, 2012 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – When a proposed $1.25-per- pack cigarette tax increase was rejected by a House committee last week – the panel refused to introduce the bill or allow a hearing … 2

• Bill to restore Idaho teacher pay clears Senate

  March 2, 2012 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – The Idaho Senate has unanimously backed a major change to the controversial Students Come First school reform law that requires annual cuts to the teacher salary funds to …

• Idaho schools chief has plan to offset teacher pay cuts

  January 27, 2012 in Idaho on Page A7 BOISE – Idaho public schools chief Tom Luna told lawmakers Thursday he wants to offset a planned $19 million reduction in Idaho teacher pay and benefits next year using projected …

• Idaho schools chief pitches budget plan, reforms

  January 26, 2012 in Idaho Idaho public schools chief Tom Luna told lawmakers Thursday he wants to offset a planned $19 million reduction in Idaho teacher pay and benefits next year using projected state revenue … 1

• Eye on Boise: Health committee has plenty to peruse

  January 15, 2012 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – There was quite the spectacle at the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee’s first meeting last week when chairwoman Rep. Janice McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, had legislative pages bring …

• Task force tweaks education reform

  December 14, 2011 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – After six months of study, a statewide task force Tuesday called for buying all Idaho high school students laptops rather than tablets, phasing them in school-by-school rather than …

• Eye on Boise: State revenues fall just shy of predictions

  November 13, 2011 in Idaho on Page B9 BOISE – Idaho’s general fund revenues for October are in, and they’re almost exactly on target, missing state economists’ forecast by just 0.7 percent. At $209.9 million, the month’s tax …

• Idaho to require two online classes

  November 4, 2011 in Idaho on Page A7 BOISE – Despite mostly negative public comment, Idaho’s state Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to approve a new rule requiring every Idaho student to take two online classes to …

• Post your thoughts on education reform

  October 23, 2011 in Idaho on Page B7 BOISE – Public comments on the State Board of Education’s proposed new online class graduation requirement – requiring every Idaho high school student to take two online courses to graduate …

• Parent-teacher group seeks input on school reform

  October 16, 2011 in Idaho on Page B7 BOISE – The group behind the referendum campaign to challenge Idaho schools Superintendent Tom Luna’s “Students Come First” reform laws is launching a new project aimed at gathering ideas on … 1

• Online class costs vary by district

  October 12, 2011 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – A quirk of Idaho’s new “Students Come First” school reform law means that online course providers will get far more state money for providing classes to students in … 1

• Idaho online class funding would vary widely

  October 11, 2011 in Idaho A quirk of Idaho’s new “Students Come First” school reform law means that online course providers will get far more state money for providing classes to students in some Idaho … 4

• ‘Gray areas’ cancel trip for Idaho lawmakers

  September 13, 2011 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Idaho officials responsible for making sure every high school student gets a state-provided computer have canceled a trip to Microsoft offices in Redmond, Wash., after concerns were raised …

• Idaho school reformers cancel visit to Microsoft

  September 12, 2011 in Idaho Idaho officials on a task force planning for the state’s purchase of computers for every high school student have had to cancel a trip to Redmond, Wash. to meet with … 9

• Idaho school panel OKs online classes

  August 26, 2011 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – Despite overwhelming opposition at seven public hearings around the state, a subcommittee of Idaho’s State Board of Education voted Thursday to require this year’s incoming eighth-graders to complete …

• Idaho panel OKs online course grad requirement

  August 25, 2011 in Idaho Despite overwhelming opposition at seven public hearings around the state, a subcommittee of Idaho’s State Board of Education voted today to require next year’s Idaho high school freshmen to complete … 8

• Online education rules get hearings

  August 10, 2011 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Idaho’s Board of Education has set seven public hearings across the state on a proposal to require high school students to take two online courses to graduate. One …

• Idaho sets hearings on online course requirements

  August 9, 2011 in Idaho Idaho’s State Board of Education has set seven public hearings around the state on a proposed new online learning requirement for high school graduation, which would require two online credits …

• Online classes shrink to two under Idaho reform plan

  July 12, 2011 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Idaho’s tech-focused “Students Come First” school reform plan originally envisioned requiring all Idaho students to take eight online classes to graduate from high school, but the state now … 1

• Idaho looks at 2 online courses for graduation, down from 8

  July 11, 2011 in Idaho Idaho’s tech-focused “Students Come First” school reform plan originally envisioned requiring all Idaho students to take eight online classes to graduate from high school, but the state now is looking … 1

• Luna recall drive falls short

  June 27, 2011 in Idaho The effort to recall Idaho state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna has officially failed, with backers falling well short of the 158,000-plus signatures needed by today’s deadline to force a … 10

• Jeb Bush touts Idaho school reforms

  June 15, 2011 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday proclaimed Idaho’s school-reform laws “one of a kind,” and said he thinks they “will be the models for the rest of …

• Jeb Bush: Idaho ed reforms ‘models’ for country

  June 14, 2011 in Idaho Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush today proclaimed Idaho’s school-reform laws requiring online courses and funding them “one of a kind,” and said he thinks they “will be the models for … 17

• Luna launches education reform panel as referendums are certified

  June 14, 2011 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – Idaho state schools chief Tom Luna opened the deliberations of a 39-member task force Monday that will help determine how to implement big new school technology investments. He … 1

• Luna moves on reforms even as referendums make ballot

  June 13, 2011 in Idaho Idaho state schools chief Tom Luna opened the deliberations of a 39-member task force Monday that’ll help determine how to implement big new school technology investments, even as the Idaho … 7

• Idaho referendum backers deliver petitions

  June 6, 2011 in Idaho Backers of three referendum measures to overturn this year’s Idaho school reform bills delivered more than 210,000 verified signatures to the Idaho Secretary of State’s office on Monday, far more … 3

• Otter on school reform referendums: ‘I hope they fail’

  June 1, 2011 in Idaho Idaho Gov. Butch Otter vowed Wednesday to personally campaign against the voter referendum to overturn this year’s school reform legislation, even as the tally of Idahoans signing petitions to place … 15

• Eye on Boise: Luna aide says reform plan isn’t bringing new staffers

  May 15, 2011 in Idaho on Page B2 BOISE – Although rumors are rife that the Idaho State Department of Education has added highly paid staffers to implement the new Students Come First school reform plan, Luci Willits, …