2008 Woodie Awards
Teachers enjoy more money for classroom supplies
Tom Luna
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: Sports
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It's been a busy summer at the State Department of Education. As Idaho students head back to school once again, I want to assure the customers of education - Idaho's parents and students - we have been working hard throughout the summer months to improve Idaho's education system.
As we raise the bar on education in Idaho, we at the same time must provide more tools for teachers to use in the classroom to ensure every student is prepared to live, work and succeed in the 21st century.
This year, Idaho schools will receive $20 million in additional funding through the Classroom Enhancement Package to pay for classroom supplies, textbooks and remediation programs. Under this package, for the first time, classroom teachers in Idaho will have the authority to spend up to $350 a year on supplies they need for their individual classrooms. Every school now has additional money to purchase up-to-date textbooks, and students who have struggled on the ISAT will get the extra assistance they need to reach grade level in the future.
These tools are positive steps, but more still needs to be done. Unfortunately in education, we never have the luxury of saying, "Mission Accomplished." In the coming year, my staff and I will be working hard to address several long-standing issues facing education.
For example, we are developing a concurrent enrollment program to give students the opportunity to take college courses while still in high school. While we provide additional funding to help students who struggle academically, we must also provide opportunities for students who excel. A robust concurrent enrollment program across the state will infuse more rigor and relevance into the later high school years and prepare more students to pursue postsecondary opportunities.
We also are working to expand the choices in public education so Idaho's education system can meet the needs of all students. Through the Department's new Division of Innovation and Choice, we are scheduling workshops to help patrons interested in starting charter schools. We also are providing more technical assistance to school districts interested in starting magnet schools or implementing other innovative programs.
As we raise the bar on education in Idaho, we at the same time must provide more tools for teachers to use in the classroom to ensure every student is prepared to live, work and succeed in the 21st century.
This year, Idaho schools will receive $20 million in additional funding through the Classroom Enhancement Package to pay for classroom supplies, textbooks and remediation programs. Under this package, for the first time, classroom teachers in Idaho will have the authority to spend up to $350 a year on supplies they need for their individual classrooms. Every school now has additional money to purchase up-to-date textbooks, and students who have struggled on the ISAT will get the extra assistance they need to reach grade level in the future.
These tools are positive steps, but more still needs to be done. Unfortunately in education, we never have the luxury of saying, "Mission Accomplished." In the coming year, my staff and I will be working hard to address several long-standing issues facing education.
For example, we are developing a concurrent enrollment program to give students the opportunity to take college courses while still in high school. While we provide additional funding to help students who struggle academically, we must also provide opportunities for students who excel. A robust concurrent enrollment program across the state will infuse more rigor and relevance into the later high school years and prepare more students to pursue postsecondary opportunities.
We also are working to expand the choices in public education so Idaho's education system can meet the needs of all students. Through the Department's new Division of Innovation and Choice, we are scheduling workshops to help patrons interested in starting charter schools. We also are providing more technical assistance to school districts interested in starting magnet schools or implementing other innovative programs.
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