If you squint, you can see it. The governor and state superintendent this week defended a proclamation encouraging students to join a conservative, student-led political club.

At the last minute, lawmakers turned one education bill into a bill targeting teachers’ unions — defying one committee chair in the process. This could be a sign of things to come.

In other news, an eleventh-hour bill restricting teachers’ union activities cleared the Senate — after tense debate and over bipartisan opposition.

Republican Statehouse leaders say savings are meant for recessions, and spending reserves could harm the state’s credit rating.

The Legislature’s most powerful budget-writers asked state agencies to spell out plans for spending cuts — ratcheting up a debate that is dominating the 2026 session.

The Republican superintendent said she already “fulfilled the assignment” by making cuts to the K-12 budget ahead of the legislative session.

In other news, a new plan to adopt tax cuts from the feds’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” makes its debut — and this could further complicate this year’s budget.

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.

Some justices appeared skeptical that the Idaho Constitution prohibits the state from funding private education. INSIDE: Photo gallery.

In other news, a bill requiring state and local K-12 artificial intelligence policies makes its debut.

Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s office told state government agencies how to reply to requests for information.

In other news, Democratic leaders called on the Tax Commission to pause advance payments through the private education tax credit.

Rural public school leaders say the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance is a “lifeline” for supplementing curriculum.

In other business, the first bill before the Senate Education Committee could be a big one — addressing the search process for university presidents.

The number climbed to over $66,000 this school year.

Key dates, committees to watch and ways you can participate in this year’s budget and policy debates.

The new year is shaping up to be another hectic one for education policy. Here’s what we’ll writing about.

Democrats aren’t buying it. Also, Gov. Brad Little says special education funding is a ‘critical’ issue that will be addressed after the state budget is ironed out.

In other business Wednesday, the State Board of Education approved the first steps of a medical education partnership between the University of Idaho-University of Utah medical education partnershi…

Seventeen districts and charters answered “No” to one or more survey questions about whether their policies align with state law. Private schools weren’t included in the survey.

For instance, the new law doesn’t require the state to report how many recipients were already enrolled in private school. This data would help answer one of the most hotly contested questions surr…

Many immigrants arrested at an Idaho racetrack are being detained in Nevada and other states, making it harder for attorneys and family to find them

Educators, attorneys, parents and politicians have picked sides in a lawsuit to decide whether Idaho can subsidize private education.

A state panel approved $11.1 million from a revived loan program. But there’s a catch.

A new forecast says the state will be in a budget hole as tax cuts and revenue shortfalls slash its bottom line.

The holdback plans could play a role in legislative budget considerations moving forward.

In other business Wednesday, the State Board approved University of Idaho’s proposal for a new graduate degree in nursing, based in Coeur d’Alene.

Clayton Strong had a history of domestic unrest in two marriages. The women’s families say a more thorough investigation of Betty Strong’s death in Idaho might have saved the life of his next wife, Sh...

One trustee said her vote was an ‘easy yes’ because the policy complies with a new state law on classroom displays.

District students and students who attend charter schools, private schools and home-schools won’t be charged for sports or activities.

After binging on tax cuts and tax breaks, Idaho appears to be teetering on a tipping point. A self-imposed budget crisis could be looming — and it could affect education.

Little also ordered spending limits because of lagging revenue and major tax cuts that allow for “slight growth” only.

A Middleton church that rented a public school’s gymnasium claims its First Amendment rights were violated when the lease was cancelled.

This hypothetical middle-class household shows how the Parental Choice tax credit can be a significant incentive to attend private school.

Colleagues and former students are celebrating Steve Hauge this month, after his four decades teaching economics and politics.

Idaho made gains on teacher pay after the state invested in raises, but it still ranks last in per-student spending.

Several variables affect raises, and this year’s contract negotiations will include an added wrinkle: Increasing minimum salary requirements.

Five years ago, education microgrants were a shiny new object. This year, Gov. Brad Little and legislators saw microgrants as a rusting relic that needed to be scrapped — even though they remain po…

In other news Wednesday, State Board members approve a possible name change for Lewis-Clark State College. And board members get an earful over a new anti-DEI law.

The 89-day legislative session was a blur of activity — especially in education. Here’s what happened, and what you might have missed.

Cooperation with federal authorities tests bounds of law and policy, stirs fear in immigrant communities

INSIDE: An abridged libraries budget bill is headed to Gov. Brad Little’s desk, and the Senate quickly approved a raft of education-related bills Tuesday.

Inside: Libraries and other local governments could tap state legal defense funds under bill that advanced Monday.

The Idaho Medical Freedom Act, would have banned businesses and governments — local, county or state — from requiring medical interventions for employment, admission to venues, transportation, or prov...

Even after the Senate amended the bill to avoid fully repealing minimum child-to-staff ratios, many child care advocates remained opposed.

In other news, the House passed a bill requiring schools to show videos depicting “early fetal development.”

In other news, a campus free speech is headed to the Senate floor.

Boise State’s president since July 2019 will interview for the Vermont position this week.