Emma Epperly

Survey: Virtual schools send millions to private companies and reimburse parents EdNews surveyed 32 of virtual schools to discover what online platform they use, how much it costs, and whether or not they reimburse families directly for educational expenses.

Multiple records requests revealed that K12 invoiced the virtual school more than $10.2 million last fiscal year.

More here: www.idahoednews.org/news/survey-...

Survey: Virtual schools send millions to private companies and reimburse parents EdNews surveyed 32 of virtual schools to discover what online platform they use, how much it costs, and whether or not they reimburse families directly for educational expenses.

Idaho Virtual Academy leaders didn't respond to the survey directly.

Instead, a communications person from K12 the private company IDVA contracts with responded and told us to file a public records request to find out how much K12 receives per year.
www.idahoednews.org/news/survey-...

Survey: Virtual schools send millions to private companies and reimburse parents EdNews surveyed 32 of virtual schools to discover what online platform they use, how much it costs, and whether or not they reimburse families directly for educational expenses.

We surveyed all 32 virtual schools in Idaho to find out what online platform they use, how much it costs, and whether or not they reimburse families directly for educational expenses.
www.idahoednews.org/news/survey-...

New report renews concerns about a massive K-12 virtual school The report brings the Idaho Home Learning Academy’s $22.5 million money trail into sharp and stark focus. Gov. Brad Little found the report both thorough and troubling.

You may have heard about the Idaho Home Learning Academy and the $20.6 million the school paid to a trio of private education vendors.

Those vendors then sent $12.6 million to families.

But IHLA isn't the only online school in Idaho that does this.
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/new...

Virtual charter school to launch despite questions over learning model Trailhead Virtual Academy took nearly two years to gain approval from Idaho’s charter commission. It’s set to open this fall.

School leaders have provided some details about their plan, but questions that prompted concerns during the approval process remain unanswered.
www.idahoednews.org/news/virtual...

Schools continue to work out kinks in new statewide reading test Some districts, like West Ada, spent thousands of dollars on headphones to improve test accuracy.

School districts across Idaho are figuring out what works best for testing young students from headphones to the number of test takers at a time, to what device kids use.
www.idahoednews.org/news/schools... #literacy #idedu #reading #amira

Statehouse roundup, 2.26.26: This time around, a high-needs special education bill passes the Senate In other Thursday news, a new bill would mandate at least 20 minutes of daily outdoor recess in elementary school, “guaranteeing every student time to move, play, and grow.”

The proposal now goes to the House, which narrowly passed a similar bill a year ago. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/legislative-...

Schools continue to work out kinks in new statewide reading test Some districts, like West Ada, spent thousands of dollars on headphones to improve test accuracy.

That's one of many hardware issues schools encountered when rolling out the new exam this fall.

One other highlight: West Ada, the state's largest school district, spent nearly $200k on headphones for the new exam.

More: www.idahoednews.org/news/schools...

Schools continue to work out kinks in new statewide reading test Some districts, like West Ada, spent thousands of dollars on headphones to improve test accuracy.

In Boundary County, test scores show 11% of Kindergarteners were reading at or above grade level this fall.

Turns out the state's new testing software couldn't hear the kids through their iPad's protective cases.
www.idahoednews.org/news/schools... #literacy #idedu #reading #amira

UPDATED: CDA trustees cancel driver’s ed program due to 2024 state law The trustees’ decision will save the district and families money.

Yesterday the House passed a bill allowing parents to teach their kids to drive:
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sta...

Here's the backstory: www.idahoednews.org/news/cda-tru...

#idleg #idedu #driversed

Grangeville to run levy in May, principals step into superintendent roles Pulling off Idaho’s first district deconsolidation in 20 years is a heavy lift for a small-town school board.

It has been a busy few weeks for the 10 Mountain View trustees.
www.idahoednews.org/news/grangev... #idedu

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