Idaho Statesman

In theory, Nampa's two most controversial books are hidden away in a librarian's office. In reality, "The Joy of Gay Sex" and "The New Joy of Sex" have been checked out nearly constantly since March 10, when the Nampa Public Library Board voted to take them off the shelves so only those who make specific requests can see them.

Idaho universities say they need more money to maintain buildings, hire faculty and cover growing costs.

Tenth-graders who aren't up to par on math and English at Canyon County's Vallivue High School get extra doses of the classes throughout their school day.

Teaching students about Internet safety turned out to be an education in itself for drama instructor RaDawn Smythe.

IDLA is a statewide virtual public school offering an array of courses to Idaho students working in collaboration with Idaho schools.

Galileo's focus on problem-solving appeals to students' tactile senses
Eight-year-old Pete Reynolds busily pushed the buttons on the back of a hand-held bee-shaped robot.

Hidden Springs Charter School faces a $200,000 deficit because of declining enrollment spurred by a 2006 public spat over attendance and because students prefer bigger junior high schools.

 
Deborah Whitaker doesn’t spoonfeed math to her first- graders. Rather than tell them 1+1=2, she takes them on a math journey, explaining the concepts of addition. She shows that numbers are symbols for real things in life, like the number of legs on a cow.

State Rep. Bob Nonini asked the state Attorney General's Office for an opinion on whether Boise School District is breaking the law by offering early education, in seeming violation of rules that prohibit use of education funds for children under the age of 5.

State Sen. Gary Schroeder deals in furs and antlers for a living, but his true passion in his public role as a lawmaker is to get the rest of the Idaho Legislature to share his support for an early education program so some kids don't start kindergarten at a disadvantage.

Idaho's State Board of Education may have mended its financial ways and a few political fences in the aftermath of money problems that nearly left the agency more than $1 million in debt.

A former State Board of Education executive director violated Idaho accounting standards and contributed to the agency's millions of dollars of debt, a top aide to Gov. Butch Otter said.

House Speaker Lawerence Denney said Friday that he's heard so many reservations about the Idaho schools superintendent's $60 million teacher pay proposal that he can't imagine it passing the Legislature.

Wayne Spjute, a computer programmer who lives in Southwest Boise, feels he's worked hard to teach his kids how to manage their money. But he's still looking for signs they've learned.

Lawmakers doubt Idaho can afford the cost, while Otter thinks the plan increases pay too quickly. Most teachers say they appreciate efforts by Idaho's top school official to raise their pay. But that's where the agreement stops on Tom Luna's plan to supplement teacher pay with bonuses based on student performance.