The Kevin Richert Podcast: Recent Episodes
Idaho EdNews
Ep. 18: Why Idaho's 2023 teacher of the year left the state — and K-12 education by Idaho EdNews
In this episode, award-winning teacher Misha Smith talks about how she uses field trips, big questions, and projects with real-world impact to fuel student curiosity and excitement. Plus, she reflects on two recent awards she won — including one that will send her around the tip of South America.
Episode 90: C. Scott Green talks about the U of I-University of Phoenix megadeal by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 15: Teacher Panel: Summer break, teacher appreciation, and favorite teachers by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 13: What it's like to be a teacher and lawmaker with Rep. Soñia Galaviz by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 12: Teacher Panel: spring teaching, teacher hats, and relationship building by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 11: Teacher Panel: Teaching myths, extreme student behavior, success stories by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 10: Teaching students to navigate misinformation with Dr. Jeffrey Wilhelm by Idaho EdNews
Episode 83: The education talking points from the State of the State speech by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 9: Switching to full-day kindergarten and more with teacher Valerie Tims by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 8: An interview with the only teacher on Debbie Critchfield's transition team, Julie Nawrocki by Idaho EdNews
Episode 79: 'This is hard for everybody:' the U of I navigates a tragic autumn by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 7: Mental health in schools from a school counselor's perspective with Nancy Goodman by Idaho EdNews
Ep. 6: Ensuring success and equitable opportunities for all students with Dr. Sheldon L. Eakins by Idaho EdNews
The Teachers' Lounge Episode 5: Solving the teacher shortage with Lynn Gangone by Idaho EdNews
Book bans and challenges from an English teacher's perspective with guest Lyndsey Matthews by Idaho EdNews
Sarah Jensen teaches math AND is prepping for the Miss America pageant in December. In this episode, she talks about what today’s kids need in a role model, how she feels about the Miss America pageant dropping the swimsuit portion of the competition, and how Idaho education is underrated.
Episode 33: Trustees talk about the job, and what keeps them coming back by Idaho EdNews
Episode 13: Challenges in the Latino community, in the pandemic and beyond by Idaho EdNews
Episode 3: Coronavirus and classrooms, a conversation with Dr. David Pate by Idaho EdNews
Listen as Kevin Richert interviews Melissa Davlin from Idaho Public Television's "Idaho Reports."
This is final episode of this iteration of Idaho Education News weekly education podcast. Before we say goodbye, we had a full week go legislative action to recap. Co-host Clark Corbin is accepting another job at a new online journalism project in Idaho and will be leaving Idaho Education News. Listen all the way to the end of this week's episode to find out what co-host Kevin Richert's has planned for an upcoming spinoff of this podcast. Thank you so much to all our listeners for joining us these past five years on Extra Credit. It was a lot of fun and we learned a lot. We hope you did too.
This week the State Board of Education nearly killed off one of the state's longtime education goals. For more than a decade the state has hoped to see 60 percent of Idaho's young adults hold a postsecondary degree or certificate to meet projected workforce needs. We'll explain what happened, plus recap a full week from the Legislature.
This week three of Idaho's largest school districts moved toward reopening for in-person learning for all grades. Meanwhile, the Legislature weighed in with several bills addressing school closure authority and the removal of public health limits for crowds and gatherings.
The action at the Idaho Statehouse picked up this week with the introduction of bills that cover a range of controversial topics from guns on school campuses to limitations on gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. We'll break down a busy week that sets the table for some big debates.
One of the biggest weeks of the whole session, Education Week has come to a close at the Idaho Statehouse. This week Kevin and Clark share full coverage from a week of budget hearings and briefings. We'll explain why the higher education hearings — and the issues legislators focused on — were particularly interesting this year.
This week we reported on personal stories from teachers across the state who shared their decisions about the coronavirus vaccine. For the last week, teachers have been at the top of the state''s priority list and they are turning out in large numbers to get shots. Plus, a look at political showdown that is escalating inside the Statehouse as the second week of the legislative session comes to a close.
Editor's Note: We added a footnote at the end of this week's episode to reflect the state of Idaho revised its vaccine data on Jan. 15, the date this episode was published.
The Idaho Legislature kicked off its 2021 legislative session in Boise this week, gathering for an in-person session as the coronavirus continues to spread. We'll break down the highlights from Gov. Brad Little's State of the State address and education budget proposals. Plus we'll add go through the latest vaccine timelines for school staff.
Idaho is gearing up for an uncertain, and possibly unsafe, legislative session that kicks off Monday. This week we look at issues of safety and access amid the coronavirus pandemic. We also break down some of the big education issues that are expected to create debate this year.
From education to politics to sports to our personal lives, the coronavirus pandemic changed everything in 2020. With the year about to end and new legislative session on the horizon, we take a step back and review what changed this year, how it changed and what might start to happen next.
This week Gov. Brad Little said legislators should seriously consider delaying the legislative session until a vaccine is available or moving to a more remote format. House Minority Leader Illana Rubel. D-Boise, also said legislature should delay the 2021 session. With only a month to go until the scheduled opening day, many questions remain.
The Legislature was back in Boise this week, for a few days in any way. In preparation for the upcoming 2021 session, Senate leaders named a new Senate Education Committee chairman. We'll discuss Sen. Steven Thayn's background, and explain how a House leadership race cost one lawmaker her spot on the joint budget committee.
This week Idaho set grim records for the number of new coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths. Schools continue to navigate a difficult set of circumstances attempting to keep their buildings open. But news of a vaccine offers a ray of hope. We'll break what we know about Idaho's vaccine plans.
This week we take a closer look at the the Boise School District's decision to move to full remote learning in the face of rising coronavirus cases and operational strains at every corner. Unless the pandemic is put under control, more districts may soon find themselves in Boise's position.
This week we scratch under the surface of Idaho's statewide 2020 election results. Amid record turnout, voters delivered a deep red result that allows the Republicans to expand their supermajority in the Legislature. We'll take a closer look at particularly interesting district in Boise. We'll also consider how a couple of county commission races can affect education.
Idaho is in a crisis with the coronavirus pandemic Gov. Brad Little said this week as he announced new restrictions for Idaho. The pushback was swift. Some Idahoans said the governor's modest response doesn't do enough to slow the spread the virus. Others said the governor has done too much to restrict liberty and harm the economy. This week, we break down some of the numbers behind our top stories — the pandemic response, new student enrollment numbers, K-3 test results and teacher evaluations.
Hundreds of teachers called in sick Monday and Tuesday, forcing the state's largest school district to cancel school for two days. Although classes have resumed, division and challenges remain. In many ways West Ada's story is indicative of the issues facing districts all across the state.
Idaho's largest school district is bracing for more than 700 teachers to call in sick on Monday in protest of continuing in-person learning under the highest COVID-19 risk classification. We're not really sure what will happen yet, but the district has said it can't cover the absences as of now.
COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Idaho. This week, a report from the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommends moving to online school in Idaho counties with high case numbers. The report suggests increases in COVID-19 cases among 12-17 year-olds may be linked to school reopening. The White House task force also recommends moving University of Idaho, Boise State University and Brigham Young University-Idaho to online instruction. We'll break down the latest from a busy week.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says students returning to college is one of the factors driving an increase in COVID-19 cases. The numbers show that several university campuses are experiencing sharp increases in COVID-19 cases. This week, outbreaks led the University of Idaho to allow virtual teaching this week.
It was a sobering week on the school reopening front across the state. Middleton's superintendent announced that district employee died after contracting COVID-19. Meanwhile, schools and districts from North Start Charter to Glenns Ferry to Emmett are moving to online learning or temporarily closing in the wake of multiple confirmed cases.
Across the state, schools, colleges and universities continue to navigate reopening and dealing with the pandemic. The fallout touches so many areas. This week, we discuss the plan to offset K-12 public schools budget cuts. Plus we take a look at higher education, where colleges and universities are bracing for furloughs and hoping for a return of football.
Today Gov. Brad Little requested $99 million in feral relief money to offset state cuts to the K-12 public school budget. On this week's show we'll explain the proposal, break down what we know about how the money can be used and talk about the budget news that let up to Little's announcement.
Schools continue come back in session this week, and the plans are literally all over the map. That's by design, of course. Gov. Little and the State Board of Education asked local school boards to come up with their own reopening plans. On this week's episode we'll discuss how its going and highlight the areas where policy and politics collide.
This week the Idaho Legislature convened for a rare special session to address issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. It went off the rails before the session was even gaveled in as large crowds became unruly and ignored masking and social distance rules.
This week a number of school districts and charters started back to school. Some schools reopening for the first time since the early days of the pandemic. But there were challenges across the state, from staffing concerns, to delays in student devices arriving, to scarcity of basics like sanitizing wipes. Meanwhile, some teachers and at least one entire high school football team are in quarantine after potential exposure to COVID-19.
For this week's episode Sami Edge of Idaho Education News and Nicole Foy of the Idaho Statesman discuss the latest story from their ongoing Latino Listening Project. Sami and Nicole discuss what concerns they heard from Latino and Hispanic families who are worried about returning to school amid the coronavirus.
As the first day of school draws closer, more and more Idaho students are gearing up for online and blended learning. We'll break down what we know from the state's three largest school districts and what Gov. Brad Little said during his school reopening press confer this week.
With only two weeks remaining until the first day of school in some areas families, teachers and administrators are grappling with how to return in the fall. We'll explain why the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and a spike in cases is overtaking reopening plans in some of the state's largest school districts.
With the first day of school only a month away, teachers are starting to react to the state's reopening guidance that came out last week. Overall, teachers said they miss their students, they want to go back for in-person instruction and they want to know the state and schools have a plan to do that safely.
This week Gov. Brad Little released Idaho's guidance for reopening schools. At the highest levels of government, from Little on up to President Trump, officials are encouraging and expecting schools to reopen at the end of the summer. With only five weeks remaining until the first day of school, we'll try to put it all in perspective.
Over the past week, COVID-219 cases have been on the rise in Boise and other communities. We'll explain the response, which included moving Ada County back to to stage three, limiting group sizes there and closing Boise State University's campus.
This week's top story is the State Board of Education will empower local school boards to develop their own plans for reopening in the fall. We'll explain the decision and discuss how this is a departure from how closures were handled this spring. Plus, get caught up on the rest of this week's big stories.
This week Boise State Public Radio's James Dawson joins the podcast to discuss Idaho's coronavirus responses and the political struggles and peer pressure that have come up along the way. Plus, Dawson and EdNews reporter Clark Corbin look back at last week's oral arguments from school chief Sherri Ybarra's lawsuit against the Legislature and the State Board of Education.
Idaho Supreme Court justices asked tough questions Friday during oral arguments in the turf war between schools chief Sherri Ybarra, the Legislature and the State Board of Education. We'll discuss some of the key questions and play a couple of audio clips. Plus, find out the results of Idaho's historic first all-absentee primary election.
This week, the conversation started to pivot toward what school might look like in Idaho this fall, both at the public school and higher education level. We'll highlight how approaches might vary from district to district. Plus, find out the latest on school chief Sherri Ybarra's lawsuit as we brace for oral arguments next week.
This week we break down the new budget guidance from Gov. Brad Little that offers a blueprint for cutting next year's school budget by 5 percent, or about $99 million. We'll look at cuts to technology and freezing teachers on the career ladder salary system.
This week the Idaho State Board of Education revised the criteria schools would need to meet if they hope to reopen during the end of the current academic year. The new criteria aligns with Gov. Brad Little's staged Idaho Rebounds plan. We'll explain what the limits are, and why you shouldn't expect a return to business as usual.
After more than a month in a statewide, stay-home order, Idaho begins its gradual reopening today. We'll discuss how lifting the stay-home order affects local schools' ability to attempt to reopen this year. Plus, we break down the latest developments in schools chief Sherri Ybarra's lawsuit against the State Board and the Legislature.
Schools chief Sherri Ybarra told education leaders to brace for another round of budget cuts, this time cutting the 2020-21 budget that kicks in July 1. We will explain how big the cuts could be and what to look for.
We focus this week's episode on two major decisions; The State Board of Education's reopening criteria and Gov. Brad Little's decision to extend the statewide stay-home order through the end of the month. We'll break down how the two decisions interest with each other, and how how these debates are quickly turning political.
This week the State Board of Education made the historic decision to close schools through the end of the academic year. But there is a catch. Local school leaders will be able to attempt to re-open if they meet a list of forthcoming criteria and get approval from local public health officials. Plus, an existential crisis looms over Idaho's vacant college campuses. Co-host Kevin Richert breaks down the uncertainty universities are facing.
School leaders are beginning to ask how the 1 percent budget holdbacks Gov. Brad Little announced last week will affect public schools, given that the cuts will be absorbed during the end of the year. We know the impact will be about $19 million and federal stimulus funds will soon be on the way and could offset that. Plus, the State Board of Education is considering the statewide school closure beyond April 20.
Most Idaho schools have closed amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, but Gov. Brad Little has so far declined to call for a statewide closure. Meanwhile, the virus has spread across more Idaho counties and Little announced an isolation order for Blaine County on Thursday afternoon. All the while, the Legislature kept working. We'll explain how the situation at the Statehouse went from surreal to scary.
Gov. Brad Little declared a state of emergency across Idaho on Friday in an effort to help minimize the spread of coronavirus. We'll explain what the declaration means and what the Little said. Meanwhile, Little and state superintendent Sherri Ybarra are not pushing to close schools. Plus, where does the Legislature stand with all of this as the session rages on?
This week the Legislature's joint budget committee unveiled the 2020-21 public school budgets. Find out what programs are in line to get funded, and why state superintendent Sherri Ybarra could lose nearly $3 million and 18 full-time positions from her State Department of Education office budget. Plus, the latest on a controversial transgender athletics bill.
It’s a milestone for us — Episode 200 of the “Extra Credit” podcast — and another full week of news from the Statehouse. Listen as Clark Corbin and Kevin Richert get you caught up on teacher salaries, transgender athletics, school election dates and more. And we take a deeper dive into Idaho’s much-touted “60 percent goal,” an education initiative the state’s leaders aren’t talking much about these days. Come back next week for Episode 201!
Idaho Falls Republican Rep. Barbara Ehardt pushed two controversial bills at the Statehouse this week. The first would ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports. The other is a sex ed bill that would require parents to opt-in their children for them to take part in any instruction on human sexuality or discussion or sexual orientation. Plus, a $225 million teacher pay plan made its debut in the Legislature.
Another big, wild week at the Legislature: The Senate Education Committee approves the math, English and science standards the House rejected a week ago. House members push back against a plan to train teachers on social-emotional issues. A transgender athletics bill makes its debut. Clark Corbin and Kevin Richert break it all down on "Extra Credit." And check back next week for the next edition.
It was a historic week in the House Education Committee. The committee voted to repeal all academic standards in English language arts, math and science. And for good measure, the committee all repealed certification requirements for new teachers. In this week’s “Extra Credit,” Clark Corbin and Kevin Richert walk through the tumultuous events in House Education — and talk about what’s at stake when the Senate gets involved in the debate. Come back next week for another episode of “Extra Credit.”
On this week’s “Extra Credit” podcast: • A former director files a tort claim against state superintendent Sherri Ybarra. • Education legislation finally begins moving through the Statehouse. • But the four-week standards stalemate continues. Listen as Clark Corbin and Kevin Richert break down this week in education policy and education politics. And be sure to check back next Friday for another “Extra Credit.”
It was a full “Education Week” at the Statehouse: Budget-writers dig into the details of state superintendent Sherri Ybarra’s K-12 proposals. The college and university presidents make the rounds, and check their rivalries at the door. Lawmakers discuss academic science standards, again. And Idaho’s teacher of the year delivers a powerful, personal message to lawmakers. In this week’s “Extra Credit” podcast, Clark Corbin and Kevin Richert break it all down. Listen here, and come back next week for another podcast.
It was Common Core week at the Idaho Statehouse. More than 5 ½ hours of discussion in the House Education Committee. No votes ¬— at least not yet. In this week’s “Extra Credit” podcast, Clark Corbin and Kevin Richert recap two days of contentious hearings, and talk about what to expect next. Also this week: A historic expulsion vote on the House floor, and a look at a new accountability reporting project. Check back next week for another “Extra Credit.”
The 2020 Legislature is off and running. Gov. Brad Little has a plan to spend $4 billion, and his proposals will affect kids and teachers. The House Education Committee is getting ready for a showdown over Common Core. And "Extra Credit" cohosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin break down the busy first week. Check back next Friday for the next "Extra Credit" podcast.
What will the 2020 legislative session mean for Idaho's students and parents? We'll have a few more answers Monday, when the Legislature opens for business. But in this week's "Extra Credit" podcast, Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin talk about the issues that could make for a contentious session.
In this year's final episode of "Extra Credit," we look back, and look ahead. We review the big stories in education politics and education policy, including Gov. Brad Little's K-12 task force, the meltdown over rules that marked the end of the 2019 legislative session, and the debate over campus diversity and inclusion programs. These big issues, and others, will mark the 2020 session, which begins Jan. 6. Come back in January for the next "Extra Credit" podcast.
This week, Extra Credit co-host Kevin Richert offers a behind-the-scenes preview of his enterprising new literacy project. Richert explains how he spent the summer and fall traveling across Idaho, meeting with educators, administrators and parents to discuss what's working — and what's not working — when it comes to Idaho's $26 million per year literacy initiative. The series debuts Dec. 16 at www.idahoednews.org.
The 2020 legislative session is still a month away, but two prominent lawmakers announced their departure this week. First, Senate Eduction Committee Chairman Dean Mortimer announced he will not seek re-election in 2020. Then, House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding resigned from the Legislature to take another job, meaning he will not serve in the 2020 session at all.
Idaho Education News reporter Sami Edge and Idaho Statesman reporter Nicole Foy join the podcast this week to introduce their Latino Listening Project. Throughout 2019 and 2020, Edge and Foy will travel across Idaho, meeting with students, teachers and parents — especially Latino families and Spanish speakers — to look at Latino student achievement and learn what is working and what isn't.
This week's episode is devoted entirely to to the "Our Kids, Idaho's Future" education task force. Task force co-chairs Debbie Critchfield and Bill Gilbert and Gov. Brad Little's education advisor Greg Wilson join the show to answer all of our task force questions.
This week we break down results of Tuesday's school elections, take a closer look at the cost of supplemental levies and discuss the impact of Republican legislators abstaining and voting against task force recommendations.
Two new sets of scores came out this week, giving us insight into how Idaho students performed on the ACT and the National Assessment Of Educational Progress, or NAEP. We'll explain where Idaho stands, what the scores mean and what the reaction looked like. Plus, get caught up on this week's top headlines.
We put Idaho's public records law to the test to request emails from the governor's office pertaining to his search to fill two vacancies on the State Board of Education. We'll shift through 58 pages of emails to pull back the curtain and reveal how a series of influential players are courting the governor on behalf of their preferred applicants. Plus, a look at this week's top education headlines.
Reading, especially at the kindergarten through third grade level, is Idaho's top priority for education. New reading test results released this week could help shape the debate over where the state goes next with its early reading initiative.
This week we take a closer look at the education goals from the state's plan to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. For the second year in a row, Idaho missed all 22 yearly targets in Math and English. Plus, a discussion of the rest of the week's top headlines.
This week we take a closer look at the state's new master educator premium program, which provides $4,000 a year to recipients. We'll let you know how many educators will receive the checks and how much the program is costing the state. Plus, take a look at the rest off this week's top headlines.
This week we discuss the appointment of former state Sen. Shawn Keough to the State Board of Education. As a former co-chair of the joint budget committee and the longest-serving female member of the Idaho Senate, Keough brings clout and influence the State Board.
This week we analyze the debate over the career ladder, Idaho's system for paying teachers. We'll explain how a new report fits in with the growing political debate and offer an update on where the K-12 education task force comes down.
This week we analyze the growing political debate over Idaho's teacher pay program, the career ladder. Well offer an overview of the career ladder and explain how a new report fits in with the political debate.
This week we take a closer look at the increase in schools and districts jumping to all-day kindergarten, partially in response to the state's literacy initiative. Plus, find out more about some under-the-radar emergency levies and get to know Middleton Superintendent Sherawn Reberry.
This week Reclaim Idaho announced it's working on a new ballot initiative to raise more funding for public schools by increasing income tax rates. We'll explain how the proposal looks, plus take a first look at State Supt. Sherri Ybarra's 2020-21 budget proposal.
Six school bond issues failed and one passed Tuesday during an election, while all three trustees keep their seats following a divisive recall effort in Middleton. Plus, meet the Boise businessman who is helping shape education policy.
Marlene Tromp, a first-generation college graduate from her family, took the helm as Boise State University's new president last month. We'll discuss her first few tumultuous weeks on the job, the enthusiastic first impressions of her and her first university address, where she promoted free speech and a diverse campus.
After a summer of review, the education task force is picking up stream and starting to put together its proposals to strengthen early literacy and improve students' college and career readiness. Plus, a look at the week's top stories.
This week we explore the latest data on teacher evaluations. Evaluations have become an increasingly controversial topic in Idaho. We'll highlight what the latest data show, and what people are saying. Plus, we'll explain what these upcoming Common Core hearing are, and what they are not.
This week we focus on new University of Idaho President Scott Green, his ties to Moscow and the Vandal family and the hard road ahead for his presidency. Plus, catch up on this week's top education stories.
We break down the Idaho Attorney General's Office report on the Charter School Commission's controversial closed-door meeting. Then new State Board of Education President Debbie Critchfield joins the podcast to give an update on the K-12 education task force.
This week we sort through the ongoing dispute between Republican Idaho lawmakers and Boise State University over diversity and inclusivity initiatives. At this point, BSU President Marlene Tromp, all of the Legislature's Democrats and House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding have all weighed in.
This week we take a closer look at Rep. Barbara Ehardt's letter to new Boise State University President Marlene Tromp, where Ehardt claimed Boise State's diversity and inclusivity programs do not reflect what she described as Idaho values. Plus, we offer an early look at the latest literacy scores.
This week Idaho EdNews editor Jennifer Swindell joins the podcast to discuss Idaho EdTrends, our free new book featuring the most recently available data on public schools.
This week we take a look at the applicants for the two vacant State Board of Education posts. Plus. J.J. Saldana from the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs joins the podcast to talk about youth leadership summits and The Latino Card podcast.
Episode 166: The intersection of health care and education(... and lots of district drama ...) by Idaho EdNews
This week we take a closer look at Idaho's progress toward meeting education goals outlined in the plan to comply with federal education law. Plus, get caught up on the results from Tuesday's under-the-radar election.
Idaho's brand new education task force will have a lot on its plate this summer and a relatively short amount of time to accomplish its work. We will break down the major education issues the task force is likely to tackle before the 2020 legislative session.
With the school year coming to a close, we check in on a district that had two schools identified on the list of lowest-performing schools in Idaho. Plus, find out what the latest report on bullying found in Idaho.
Idaho teacher salaries have moved up in a new national comparison of pay. But the passage of a new law this year has several administrators confused and frustrated as they try to understand how much the state requires schools to pay teachers. We will point out the problematic language in the bill and attempt to address the confusion.
A round of applause and cheers welcomed the Idaho State Board of Education's hiring of Marlene Tromp as the president of Boise State University. On this week's episode, we discuss the historic hire and talk about Tromp's experience and credentials.
After 95 grueling days the legislative session adjourned for the year. Lawmakers may be leaving town, but they created major uncertainty over agency rules that have big education implications.
Most of the big education issues are settled, but the 2019 Legislative Session refuses to die. We'll explain where things stand with education, and why the session lingers on.
With the Legislature still in session, a last-ditch, pared down funding formula bill is making its way to the House floor for a vote. Even if it passes, it won't change how Idaho pays for its schools.
After months of anticipation, the Legislature is finally ready to unveil a bill to rewrite Idaho's school funding formula. We'll explain why this is the biggest eduction proposal of the year, and how time may be running out for it to move forward.
This week we take a closer look at a significant increase in the number of children who are attending Idaho schools without a full battery of immunizations. Plus, as the end of the legislative session draws near, we look at controversial bills involving guns in school and sex education courses.
Find out what the top education budget priorities are and take a closer look at Gov. Brad Little's K-3 literacy initiative.
Idaho Education News reporter Devin Bodkin joins us this week to discuss the latest developments in an investigation into the financial practices of two Blackfoot charter schools. Plus, we highlight the latest legislative news.
Educators, parents and taxpayers had plenty to say during the first major public hearing over a proposal to rewrite Idaho's public school funding formula. We'll break down the debate and look ahead to the next steps.
Legislators just unveiled a draft of a bill to rewrite Idaho's K-12 public school funding formula. We'll take a closer look, and explain why this bill sets up the biggest education debate of the year in Idaho.
This week we focus on Education Week at the Idaho Statehouse, which featured key budget hearings for K-12 public schools and higher education. Plus, what does a new survey reveal about how Idahoans view early childhood education?
This week we take a closer look at two important new data sets — a study on teacher pay and the career ladder and Idaho's latest high school graduation reports.
This week we cover the opening week of the 2019 Idaho Legislative session — from Gov. Brad Little's State of the State address to the budget to the top education issues.
This week we cover Gov.-elect Brad Little's inauguration and look ahead to Little's State of the State address and the opening of the 2019 legislative session.
This week we preview two of the top issues going before the 2019 Idaho Legislature — enrollment and funding.
After weeks of speculation, we now know who will lead the education and budget committees during the 2019 Legislative session. We'll introduce you to the new committee chairmen and look ahead to the big education issues shaping up for 2019.
This week we take a deep dive into co-host Kevin Richert's four-day series examine the obstacles and options Idaho students face after high school. We'll break down the series and invite you to our Dec. 4 town hall discussion at Boise State University.
With the election behind us, the struggle for power and influence in the Legislature begins. On this week's episode we explain why control of the House Education Committee is up for grabs and why there could be a new speaker of the House in 2019.
This week's election will go a long way to shaping education policy in Idaho, so this week's podcast is all about analyzing the results and putting the different pieces into context.
The Nov. 6 general election will go a long way toward shaping Idaho's education policy and state government for years to come. We'll explain what's on the line, which races we're watching and how you can become an informed voter.
This week we look at the latest data tracking Idaho's progress towards its 60 percent education attainment goal. Plus, we discuss some possible consequences of adopting a new school funding formula.
A pair of lively, issues driven debates shook up the state superintendent and governor's races. We'll take a deep dive analyzing each debate and what it means as we close in on the Nov. 6 election.
The state superintendent's race really heated up this, and we break it all down with first hand accounts of schools chief Sherri Ybarra's campaign event and this week's roundtable discussion with challenger Cindy Wilson.
This week, "Idaho Reports" co-host Melissa Davlin joins Clark Corbin on the podcast to offer a preview of all of the statewide political debates ahead of the Nov. 6 election.
This week we explore the work of the school funding formula committee as a major deadline draws near and the public waits to see the numbers.
This week we take a closer at some of the eduction issues shaping this year's campaign, break down the latest endorsements and continue to follow the school safety debate.
This week, there was more pushback on Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra's school safety plan. We'll explain on this week's episode of Extra Credit.
After submitting her budget to the state, Supt. Sherri Ybarra promoted big raises for teachers. When the math didn't work out, she blamed an employee. We'll take a closer look on this week's podcast.
This week we look at the Boise school board elections and Idaho Falls' proposed $100 million bond issue.
This week, Idaho education leaders released a list of the 29 lowest performing schools in the state. We'll explain how the list was determined, what comes next, and how to find out if your school made the list.
This week, we examine some concerns State Supt. Sherri Ybarra's multimillion dollar school security plan. But first, multimedia journalist Andrew Reed joins the podcast to discuss his Inspire Idaho project.
This week we recap the closely watched first debate between state superintendent candidates Sherri Ybarra and Cindy Wilson.
This week several education leaders challenged State Supt. Sherri Ybarra to put together a big, bold school budget proposal. We'll explain why next year's budget will be closely watched.
After two years of build up, a new public school funding formula began taking shape this week. We'll explain what change might be coming, and where lawmakers might encounter opposition.
This week on Extra Credit we take a closer look at SAT scores and explain why transparency matters and why we filed an open meeting law complaint against the New Plymouth School District.
This week we take a closer look at campaign finance reports, and point out who failed to file the required disclosure forms by last week's deadline. Plus, state officials are concerned with the latest round of SAT results. We'll explain why.
This week, we dig deeper into the unexpected announcement that President Chuck Staben is leaving University of Idaho after the upcoming school year — and the unanswered questions surrounding his departure.
Last week, the State Board of Education abandoned its search for a new Boise State University president and voted to start the process over again. We'll explain what happens next, and how much the state has spent so far on the failed search.
We break down all the primary results and take a look ahead to November's biggest races. We'll also explain why so much will be at stake for Idaho's schools as the state responds to widespread political turnover.
With just four days remaining until the 2018 Idaho primary elections, we highlight the most interesting races and break down the latest campaign finance reports and election news.
With just 11 days to go until the May 15 primaries, we take a closer look at the state superintendent's race and last Friday's Republican debate between incumbent Sherri Ybarra and challenger Jeff Dillon.
This week both the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates mixed it up in a series of statewide debates. We'll go behind the scenes with Idaho Education News journalist Kevin Richert to take a closer look at the race.
With the May 15 primary elections on the horizon, several races have heated up. Catch up on the latest developments from the governor's, state superintendent's and lieutenant governor's races.
This week three of the four candidates running for superintendent of public instruction introduced themselves to voters at our candidate forum. Take an inside look at the forum and find out what we will be watching in the days leading up to next month's primary elections.
With the legislative session complete, it's time to focus on the mad political dash to next month's contested primary elections. We'll explain why Republicans and Democrats alike have plenty of reasons to vote.
After 80 unpredictable days under the Statehouse rotunda, the Idaho Legislature finally adjourned this week. We'll break the ending down — and look ahead to May's primary election.
With the legislative session all but wrapped up, we break break down the education issues, point out the session's winners and losers and explain what everything means for students and teachers.
The Idaho House killed an important education bill over concerns about how to move forward testing students' reading abilities. The politics involved are fascinating, the stakes are high and the debate may delay the end the of legislative session.
Over the course of 20 hours this week, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra saw two of her big legislative initiatives fail. We'll explain what happened, and catch you up on all the week's top stories.
A private school scholarship bill that some critics say has the potential to divert funding from public schools passed the Idaho House by a thin margin this week. Plus, the latest election 2018 filings and a look at two bills that could spell changes for school elections.
The Senate Education Committee approved a new slate of proposed science standards in full, potentially writing the final chapter in a three-year saga that made national headlines. Plus, budget writers set the K-12 public school budget without any real debate.
A new week brings a new controversy to the Idaho Legislature. Find out why legislators are divided over a proposal to update sex education laws. Plus, find out why Gov. Otter appears to be giving up on one of his top education proposals before it even gets off the ground.
For the second straight year, Idaho lawmakers voted to remove references to climate change and human impact on the environment from public school science standards. Plus, both candidates running for superintendent of public instruction got caught up in a debate over new graduation rates.
Two days of politically charged hearings over a proposed new set of public school science standards shook up the Idaho Statehouse this week. We'll break the debate down on this week's podcast.
We recap one of the busiest and most important weeks at the Idaho Legislature, which was dominated by education budget hearings each day. We explain what's at stake, how much money is in play and what the top priorities are.
This week on Extra Credit we take a closer look at how the Legislature's career ladder salary law has affected pay after three years of implementation. Plus, what in the world is going on in New Plymouth?
The 2018 legislative session kicked off this week, and we're here summarize the first week highlights and discuss where things go from here.
If Gov. Butch Otter's preview of the upcoming legislative session was any indication, we're in for a bizarre year in politics. This week, we'll explain some of the key issues and preview the Jan. 8 State of the State address.
Take a behind-the-scenes look at journalist Kevin Richert's new four-part series on higher education. This week, Richert explains the reporting that went into the series and highlights the reasons why Idaho has not met its signature education goal, despite investing $100 million in programs designed to reach the goal.
The state has suspended a charter school founder's administrative license for falsifying teacher data and falling short of instructional requirements. We'll explain the latest violations uncovered in the state's crackdown on inaccurate data and reports.
More than two years after Idaho Education News raised red flags about the validity of teacher evaluation data, a state agency filed complaints against two Idaho school superintendents and ordered reprimands be placed in their certification files. We explain why, in this week's episode of Extra Credit.
Our top story this week is Boise State University President Bob Kustra's retirement announcement. Co-host Kevin Richert explores Kustra's legacy, and explains why his upcoming retirement creates more uncertainty in Idaho's higher education system.
The 2018 governor's race heated up this week with Republicans landing a series of high-profile endorsements that include Mitt Romney, Ted Cruz and Gem County's Bill Butticci. Plus voter-approved supplemental tax levels reach record levels in Idaho.
Co-host Kevin Richert explains why school districts across the state are reporting a shortage of qualified applicants for teaching positions, how the shortage is affecting classroom and why the problem isn't likely to be solve soon. Plus, an investigation into the Oneida School District's sudden enrollment and budget increases.
This spring, Idaho students will have a chance to critique their schools and their teachers as a part of the state's new accountably plan. We will explain how the student engagement surveys will work, and why state officials say student input is important for schools.
State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra launched her re-election campaign this week, setting up a showdown with Wilder Superintendent Jeff Dillon in the 2018 GOP primary. Co-hosts Clark Corbin and Kevin Richert break down the race so far, and take a look at other campaigns affecting education.
This week on Extra Credit, co-host Kevin Richert takes a closer look at remediation numbers in Idaho's colleges and universities and dissects a plan designed to help students progress toward graduation. Plus, find out why school districts leaders are divided over how to pay their teachers.
This week on Extra Credit, co-host Kevin Richert breaks down a new proposal to change how Idaho public schools are funded — and explains how it might affect schools, parents and taxpayers.
This week Rep. Wendy Horman joins the podcast to talk about school funding, the budget-setting process and her political future.
Compared to other races, the superintendent of public instruction's race hasn't really started. But that didn't keep things from getting weird this week. Find out why, on Extra Credit.
This week on Extra Credit our co-hosts detail how Idaho schools are preparing for the learning opportunities — and traffic jams — expected to come with Monday's total eclipse. Plus, Kevin Richert launches a new series previewing the 2018 state election.
On today's episode of Extra Credit we explain why this week's Board of Education Meeting is likely to shape school policy for years to come. Plus, co-host Kevin Richert digs deep into the state's latest reading scores.
This week on Extra Credit special guest Karlynn Laraway from the State Department of Education joins the podcast to break down the Every Student Succeeds Act and explain why parents and taxpayers should be paying attention.
Education officials have spent their summer racing against a deadline to submit Idaho's ESSA plan to the feds. Find out about a big change brewing this week, and about an unresolved debate.
Although more students are taking advanced AP courses in Idaho, participation still lags well below the national average. Find out why and catch up on news from across the state on this week's edition of Extra Credit.
This week we take a closer look at Idaho's plan to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Plus, co-host Kevin Richert points out some concerns with the latest round of SAT scores.
With a major deadline looming, Idaho's plan to comply with a new federal education law is still incomplete, and in draft form. Meanwhile, two prominent education groups say they feel disrespected after being cut out of the process. We'll explain why on this week's episode of Extra Credit.
Find out why education officials in timber country are starting to worry that Secure Rural School funding may not be so secure. Plus, a familiar name in Idaho education and political circles says he's not running for an open Congressional seat in 2018.
Brutal winter storms forced Idaho schools into extended closures this winter. But when the school year ended, hundreds of snow days simply melted away. Co-host Kevin Richert explains why this week on Extra Credit.
This week on Extra Credit: The debate over global warming's place in Idaho science standards continues. Plus, find out what Idaho education leaders are saying about President Trump's proposed cuts to education.
This week on Extra Credit: U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador shakes up Idaho's 2018 gubernatorial election. Plus, find out why controversy crept into the Nampa School District's hiring of a new superintendent.
This week on Extra Credit, learn about Jeff Dillon, the superintendent from a small school district that is challenging Idaho schools chief Sherri Ybarra in next year's Republican primary. Plus, an update on how schools are handling the new civics test graduation requirement.
Find out why local school districts continue to have concerns about the Common Core aligned test. Plus Kevin Richert reports on a homework assignment that President Trump has given Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
This week on Extra Credit, co-host Kevin Richert details the ongoing problems with the state's teacher bonus reports and the ways school districts award the money.
This week on Extra Credit, find out why education guru Charlotte Danielson is concerned about teacher evaluations being used to set educators' pay.
Co-hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin discuss Gov. Butch Otter and schools chief Sherri Ybarra's critiques of Idaho's recent legislative session.
After 80 tumultuous days in Boise, the 2017 legislative session adjourned this week. But even though lawmakers went home, all eyes will be on Gov. Butch Otter in the coming days — find out why.
As legislative leaders pushed for a March 24 adjournment, a handful of House conservatives pushed back. They used procedural delays to bring the House to a grinding halt — and to extend the session into next week.
Get caught up on this week's biggest school bond and levy election results while the Idaho Legislature inches closer to adjourning for the year.
This week on Extra Credit co-host Kevin Richert breaks down the state's $3.5 million broadband settlement, and explains why the cost to taxpayers actually topped $18 million. Plus, we look back on another wild week in the Idaho Legislature.
On March 14, Idaho voters head to the polls to decide the fate of $715 million worth of proposed school bonds and levies. Find out what's at stake and how to cast an informed vote. Plus, all the headlines from a crazy week at the Legislature.
Science standards were under the microscope at the Idaho Legislature this week. Find out why the Senate Education Committee delayed action involving teaching climate change.
This week on Extra Credit we take a closer look at a new teacher evaluations report and explain why new Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos inspired a student-led rally in Boise.
Find out why a wild week in Washington may have far-reaching effects in Idaho. Meanwhile, back home in Idaho, a proposed slate of new science standards generated plenty of controversy inside the Statehouse as legislators grappled with global warming and human impact on the environment.
This week on Extra Credit we break down the House's tax cut proposal and the ongoing budget debate between prioritizing education funding and cutting taxes.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin take a closer look at State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra's public school budget request — and highlight where her priorities differ from Gov. Butch Otter.
This week on Extra Credit hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin cover the highlights from the second week of the Idaho legislative session and take a deeper dive into teacher pay and other issues that are likely to dominate the policy debate in the weeks to come.
This week on Extra Credit: Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin break down the first week of the legislative session. They highlight the education proposals from the State of the State address and the controversy involving a North Idaho lawmaker.
This week, co-hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin take a look at the education issues that are likely to shape the upcoming legislative session.
Reporter Kevin Richert takes a closer look at Reading Revisited, his collaborative new series examining the state's $11.25 million literacy initiative.
Special guest J.J. Saldana from the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs joins the podcast this week as we discuss Idaho's teacher evaluations controversy and the state's effort to comply with federal education laws.
This week on Extra Credit, we introduce listeners to Rep. Julie VanOrden, who has been promoted to lead the House Education Committee in Idaho. Plus, we'll explain why top officials expect a tough 2017 legislative session.
How President-elect Donald Trump stormed through Idaho on his way to winning the presidency. Plus, local educators and parents say their voices weren't included in the state's plan to comply with a major new federal education law.
On Nov. 8, control of everything from the White House to the Statehouse is up for grabs. This week on Extra Credit, we'll preview your Idaho ballot and highlight some races to watch.
This week on Extra Credit: Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin take a closer look at the decrease in students going on to college and the possible reasons for that.
This week on Extra Credit: A closer look at the clash between State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra and the rest of the State Board of Education.
The week we shine a light on the contract for the State Department of Education's new chief policy officer and follow the money of campaign contributions to report on who is winning the money game and who is sharing the wealth.
This week on Extra Credit, we take a first look at the plans school districts designed to help struggling young readers. Plus, an early look at the school budget and an update on compliance with a major education law.
This week Idaho lawmakers got their first look at costs to rewrite the state's public school funding formula. We'll give you 131 million reasons why the new formula will be expensive.
The State Board of Education proposes a crackdown on bad teacher evaluation data. And backtracks on dual-credit restrictions. And holds a do-over meeting, in response to open meetings concerns. Get caught up here.
Success stories from two small Idaho school districts top this episode of Extra Credit. Find out why Murtaugh made headlines for its test scores and how New Plymouth is making it easy for students to earn college credits early.
Host Kevin Richert helps makes sense of a brand new batch of SBAC test results. He'll explain what's changed from last year and where students showed the most improvement. All that, plus a rundown of this week's top stories and headlines.
It might still be summer, but Thursday was the day for state superintendent Sherri Ybarra to turn in her budget request for 2017-18. We have all the numbers you need to know.
This week on Extra Credit: Co-host Kevin Richert breaks down his series probing Idaho's education funding tax shift. He explains whether Idahoans are paying more or less today to fund schools than they were a decade ago.
This week's episode is all about Idaho's math initiative, as Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin take a closer look at whether a big state investment in training added up to improvements in students' math scores.
This week on Extra Credit hosts Clark Corbin and Kevin Richert break down a new school accountability model approved by the state. Plus, we take a close look at the literacy remediation funding and explain how disclosure reports will affect an upcoming school board election.
With back-to-school only a few weeks away, hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin spent the week with hundreds of school administrators meeting in Boise. We cover school accountability, the literacy initiative and the future of the House Education Committee.
This week on Extra Credit: Adding up the fuzzy math in the state's legal brief on access to restrooms, a look at two school districts starting the year with new superintendents and a swipe at our rival podcast, The Point of Personal Privilege.
What did we learn from this week's Republican National Convention that could affect education in Idaho? This week on Extra Credit, we take a closer look at the political theater, the silliness and the policy.
This week on Extra Credit host Clark Corbin and policy expert and former school superintendent Randy Schrader take a close look at the state's controversial teacher evaluations system and changes State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra says may be on the horizon.
This week on Extra Credit: A new report places Idaho in the top five nationally when it comes to students receiving an associate's degree and continuing their education. Plus, a look at an innovative way a small school district is updating its aging facilities.
This week on Extra Credit — Kevin Richert offers the first in-depth look at how the Legislature's career ladder salary law affects teacher pay. Plus, Clark Corbin uncovers more errors in flawed state report on teacher evaluations.
This week on Extra Credit: New elementary school reading scores reveal why the Legislature was concerned with literacy rates. Plus, Eastern Idaho reporter Devin Bodkin stops by to discuss teacher retention and a close examination of errors in a new state report on teacher evaluations.
The state released SAT scores for thousands of Idaho juniors this week, and the results were a mixed bag. On today's episode of Extra Credit, we break down the test results, check on the West Ada School District's financial concerns and talk about the future of testing.
School is out, but Idaho isn't taking a vacation from politics. This week on Extra Credit: School board appointments, the Republican state convention and the controversial SBAC tests take center stage.
This week on Extra Credit hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin preview the Idaho GOP State Convention, go behind-the-scenes on Richert's story on shuttered charter schools that received federal grants and discuss changes coming to the Middleton School District.
In this week's podcast, we sit down with Seth Ogilvie of Idaho Public Television to get a gauge on rural Idaho's political dialogue. Here's a hint: People aren't talking much about K-12.
This week's episode of Extra Credit is devoted to Tuesday's upcoming primary election in Idaho. Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin break down legislative races to watch, preview the West Ada recall and crunch the numbers behind the bond and levy elections.
This week on Extra Credit hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin highlight the in-depth refugee reporting project that Richert launched earlier in the week. They also share breaking news from the West Ada School District and pick a legislative race to watch during the May 17 primary.
On this week's podcast, Kevin Richert and Michelle Edmonds debrief about the ongoing story of the West Ada School District. And Kevin and Clark Corbin talk science standards — and a little baseball.
This week, Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin break down Idaho's school immunization rates, talk about the latest on the science standards saga and discuss a key job search at the State Department of Education.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin discuss how an Idaho Ed News photos ended up in campaign and political materials published by an Idaho lawmaker — and why the journalists fought vigorously and publicly to have the photos removed.
This week hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin break down Idaho state superintendent Sherri Ybarra's performance on her top legislative priorities and look ahead to next month's primary elections.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin pick up the pieces from Idaho's recently adjourned legislative session. Then Corbin heads to Wilder to find out why an entire community is looking toward the future of education.
Idaho lawmakers adjourned the legislative session after 75 days in Boise. Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin devote this week's episode to breaking down the session from an education standpoint. They discuss the final school budget, the major education bills signed into law and the proposals that didn't make it.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin break down the open meetings law concerns coming out of the Caldwell School District and break down the unresolved issues as the Legislature prepares to adjourn for the year.
The final weeks of Idaho's legislative session can get pretty crazy, and this year is no exception. Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin break down the madness, which includes an error-filled state report and increased friction between lawmakers.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin dissect Idaho's new public school budget and explain the significance behind a new bill that would increase oversight of teacher evaluations.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin offer an early look at the school budget that will be set Monday and offer reckless predications of when the Legislature will adjourn for the year.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin dig into the latest Statehouse news, including a revised student literacy bill and a rural schools proposal that may be in trouble.
This week hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin offer behind-the-scences analysis of the science standards that have now been rejected. Plus, they explain why a literacy proposal is sidetracked and what Gov. Butch Otter thinks about a proposed constitutional amendment.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin cover all the important issues from the Idaho Statehouse, including an explanation of why new science standards are in jeopardy and a summary of the ongoing debate over tax cuts and school funding.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin cover the busy Education Week developments at the Idaho Statehouse and dissect the biggest school bills making headlines.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin dive into the second week of the legislative session to take a closer look at literacy programs, school funding and some of the key players in the Idaho education arena.
Hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin discuss the highlights from week one of the legislative session.
Welcome to the first episode of Extra Credit, where hosts Kevin Richert and Clark Corbin discuss the upcoming Idaho legislative session.