Education

The Meridian Library is a winner of the highest honor that can be given to museums and libraries across the country.

Discussions about improving STEM education usually revolve around the classroom. Engineering for Kids develops classes, workshops and camps for franchisees in 33 countries that let kids enjoy themselves while learning after school, during breaks and even at birthday parties. We talk with Leslie Buch, co-owner and program director and Orlando Chavez, business director of Engineering for Kids Metro Boise about keeping STEM education cool after school.

A small group of high school freshman staged a walkout this week at Teton High in Driggs. The students’ demonstration reignited debate about the school’s controversial mascot.

The 2019 Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge invites teams from Idaho's colleges and universities to compete for $100,000 of seed money for a tech startup. Six of seven Boise State teams have advanced to the finals of this competition and Idaho Matters talks with Ryan Vasso, associate director of Boise State's Venture College, about the challenge and competing Boise State students Brett Burns and Isaac Jaynes.

A sixth grade class at Washington Elementary has recorded an entry for NPR's Student Podcast Challenge. The title of their podcast is "Basquing in Potatoes" and on Thursday's Idaho Matters, we meet budding podcasters Annelise Humphrey and Samy Tipping and their teacher, Angela Troy.

A Boise State creative writing class recently had a unique speaker visit their class via Skype; horror legend Stephen King checked in to share ideas with future writers. We'll learn about the program that brings writers like King into the classroom.

Marlene Tromp will join Boise State University as the seventh president in the university’s history. A packed crowd of students, faculty and staff applauded loudly as the Idaho State Board of Education voted to approve her appointment Tuesday. They also approved her $425,000 salary.

Boise State professor Christopher Innes uses references from pop culture - Shrek, Nemo, et al, to help students connect with concepts of philosophy. Innes joins Idaho Matters to connect the dots between Pokémon and Plato . . . 

. . . and Idaho Matters takes a moment to commemorate one full year on the air with shout-outs to team members and supporters.

The Rotary Club's Youth Exchange allows American students the opportunity to travel and study in foreign countries as well as bring foreign students to American families to share cultures. Beth Markley, coordinator for the Rotary District 5400 (Boise) Youth Exchange Program and former exchange student Tara Spencer joins Idaho Matters to discuss the program.

The Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children is promoting Week of the Young Child, a family-friendly week of activities connecting families with community resources for their kids. Idaho Matters speaks with Brandi Nyhof and Allison Maier, outreach coordinators with IAEYC.

Idaho Matters talks with principal Andrew Ross and teachers Jeanie Mahle and Ruth Bucklin of Peace Valley Charter School about Waldorf education.

Books in Every Home is one of Boise State University’s Vertically Integrated Projects. These projects allow students to get experience while earning college credit. The goal of this project is to bring books to low-income and refugee elementary students in the community.

Following the defeat of a multi-million dollar school bond in the Minidoka County School District last month, voters will soon be weighing in on the measure again.

The One Stone school was founded in 2008 with the idea that students thrive when empowered to set their own destinies. Part of this model includes allowing the students to have a hand in policymaking and management. We talk with One Stone's director, Chad Carlson, about what makes it a different educational experience.

The Nampa School District recently announced they will provided tuition-free, full day, five-day kindergarten for residents of that district. Idaho Matters talks with the Boise district about upcoming kindergarten expansion plans and the Association for the Education of Young People about the role kindergarten plays in early childhood development and families economies.

Idaho Matters speaks with state senator Grant Burgoyne (D-Boise) and retired educator Jean Heinscheid about pending legislation that would make secondary education more obtainable for Idahoans.

Concordia Law School in Boise has been trying to procure full accreditation from the American Bar Association since it opened in 2012. Last week, the school received full accreditation, allowing law students to graduate with a full JD and qualify to take the Bar exam in most states. Concordia Law Dean Elena Langan joins Idaho Matters to talk about training the lawyers of tomorrow.

The CapEd Read to Rise program encourages kids to read through a school competition with a unique prize and the credit union's Annual Movie Trailer Contest has high schoolers producing their own film trailers. We speak with Todd Christiansen, CapEd's Senior Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, about the programs.

The J.A. and Kathryn Albertsons Foundation recently commissioned a study of youth and education in Idaho. We talk about the results of the 'Idaho At Risk' report and look at the correlations between educational policy today and the state's economy of tomorrow.

Boise State University and CapEd Credit Union have partnered to provide a program to allow adults who are still carrying college credits to apply them to a degree program. The Passport to Education program creates a pathway for adults to finish their degrees while accommodating a busy schedule.

It’s a final four of sorts, but it has nothing to do with basketball.

Idaho and Wyoming are now among only four states that do not fund preschool, according to a new report from the Education Commission of the States.

An education budget was approved by the Idaho legislature on Monday. It calls for a 6.1% increase over last year — just short of state school superintendent Sherri Ybarra's request. We talk with Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News about the budget and the state's new funding formula for schools.

In recent years, Idaho education leaders have focused much of their attention on getting more students to graduate college. But how has the once-named “Go On” campaign been working?

Boise State has been without a permanent leader since July of last year. That’s when former university President Bob Kustra retired, after 15 years leading the institution.

Every February 4, people around the world show awareness and support for the fight against cancer on World Cancer Day. We'll find out how that fight is going in Idaho.