The Idaho Legislature adjourned last week and the results for public education and IEA members were nothing short of monumental. Historic pay raises for both certified educators and education support professionals and the defeat seven voucher bills proved the influence of IEA members is real and important for education policy in Idaho.In our final HOTLINE Podcast of the year, IEA’s Political Director Chris Parri and Associate Executive Director Matt Compton offer analysis of the session’...

This episode’s topic is Week 10 of the 2023 legislative session. With adjournment likely next week, lawmakers are done with committee hearings and working through a long roster of legislation so they can go home. The Idaho Legislature is winding down its business for 2023 and, absent any last-minute surprises, this session’s outcomes for students, educators and public education promise to be historic. Those bills include pay raises for significant pay raises for educators — IEA members’ top p...

In this episode of the HOTLINE Podcast, our panel discusses Week 7 of the Idaho Legislature’s 2023 session, including the defeat of extreme voucher and maneuvering around other voucher bills, failed attempts to police and censor libraries and other action around education policy.Joining today’s conversation are:IEA’s Political Director Chris ParriIEA Associate Executive Director Matt Compton

In this episode of Idaho Education Association's HOTLINE Podcast, we discuss Week 6 of the Idaho Legislature’s 2023 session. Our panel's discussion centers on:The real fiscal impact of the session’s first voucher billA bill requiring school districts to provide separate bathrooms and locker rooms based on students’ gender at birthA legislative committee’s rejection of expanded protections from abuse for school employeesA popular parent’s rights bill, March 14’s bond and levy elections and the...

In this episode of IEA's HOTLINE Podcast, we discuss Week 5 of the Idaho Legislature’s 2023 session. Our panel's analysis centers on the advancement of the session’s first voucher bill earlier in the week, the outlook for Gov. Brad Little’s proposals on educator pay, attempts politicize traditionally non-partisan institutions in the state and a renewed effort to censor libraries. Joining today’s conversation are:IEA’s Political Director Chris ParriIEA Executive Director Paul Stark

In this episode of IEA's HOTLINE Podcast, we discuss Week 4 of the Idaho Legislature’s 2023 session. Our discussion centers around bond and levy elections on March 14 and proposed legislation to limit school district opportunities to put such measures before voters (House Bill 58). We also discuss legislation (House Bill 114) expanding protections for educators from physical violence — a problem educators face all to often — and IEA's coming testimony on Tuesday against the session's fi...

In this episode of HOTLINE, we discuss the first three weeks of the Idaho Legislature’s 2023 session. There’s been quite a bit action around education at the Statehouse as those with a wide variety of perspectives about public education begin bringing their proposals forward. Our panel discusses:Three key factions among lawmakers looking to influence education policyAn unlikely proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution that aims to clear the way (but likely falls short) for allowing t...

This episode of IEA's HOTLINE Podcast discusses Jan. 16's 2023 IEA Lobby Day, IEA members’ annual opportunity talk directly with Idaho lawmakers about their legislative priorities for making Idaho public education the best it can possibly be for Idaho’s students and families. This year, more than 150 IEA members came to Boise for this year’s event, which was one of the most successful ever. Our panel also discussed a new advocacy opportunity for individual local education associati...

In this episode of IEA's HOTLINE Podcast, we discuss Idaho Gov. Brad Little's recommendation to bring starting teacher salaries into the top 10 among all states — an extraordinary commitment to public education and the future of the state. Our panel discusses Gov. Little's recommended pay raise for both certified educators and classified school employees and the positive impact such an investment will have on learning outcomes for students. Joining the conversation are key mem...

In this episode of IEA's HOTLINE Podcast, we discuss vouchers — taxpayer funded government subsidies for private schools or vendors that syphon scarce and desperately needed tax dollars away from public school classroom. The panel discusses how voucher proponents cloak voucher schemes in benign language like "school choice" or "scholarships" and how other states that adopt the concept have not seen promised educational outcomes. Joining this discussion are central members of IEA's Lobby ...