Idaho Department of Education hiding money from lawmakers

While schools throughout Idaho struggle to find funding, Idaho state education leaders struggle to hide money.

This morning an article in the Idaho Statesman titled "ID applies for grant to better track students" appeared. The title does not suggest any wrong doing however some simple fact checking reveals a great deal.

From the article linked above.

[QUOTE]

The department has applied for a $6 million federal grant to help pay for the system, which will assign students a unique ID number to track their achievement and attendance through graduation or until they drop out.

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[QUOTE]

Idaho is among few states without a longitudinal data system to provide more accurate graduation rates and dropout statistics. State lawmakers gave the education department $2.5 million last year to develop a framework for the system, which is now being tested in Idaho public schools.

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This is where it gets interesting.

On January 27, 2009 I attended a conference in Boise ID sponsored by the IETA (Idaho Education Technology Association). At this conference I attended a breakout session titled "Unique Student ID general setup" which consisted of a Idaho Unique Student ID system demonstration. This system is being used by School Districts throughout the state of Idaho and is managed by the Idaho State Department of Education. The system was purchased from Lumen Software. At the beginning of the session the main speaker specifically said "I want to clear up something...there have been rumors floating around that the Idaho State Department of Education paid 2 million dollars for this system.....that is simply not true.... they paid fifty thousand dollars for this system ... I can show you a copy of the check". Now I thought this statement was rather odd until I read the Idaho Statesman article linked above and below.

ID applies for grant to better track students

Facts:

* The Idaho Department of Education was given 2.5 million dollars last year to implement a longitudinal data system.

* The Idaho Department of Education has not implemented a longitudinal data system.

* The Idaho Department of Education is testing a unique student id system that cost $50,000.

* There is no evidence that any school districts are participating in a longitudinal data system test.

* If the money is not spent on a longitudinal data system then it must be returned.

Why has the Idaho Statesman published an article that is almost completely inaccurate? It seems that they did no fact checking. It looks like a complete work of fiction.

Is a false paper trail being created to hide the money?

Tom Luna is Pro-Choice

According to the Idaho State Department of Education charter schools are so simple to conceive and run that anyone can do it. Easy to run , Easy for parents, Easy for kids to learn and Easy to innovate!

STEP RIGHT UP FOLKS ..... STEP RIGHT UP!

The Idaho Department of Education is selling School Choice.

Since when has anything good been .....



[QUOTE]BOISE – Are you interested in starting a public charter school but not sure where to begin? The Idaho State Department of Education’s Division of Innovation and Choice is hosting a Charter Start! 101 workshop in March to help parents, educators and other patrons learn more about public charter schools and what it takes to start a school.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]Charter schools are free, public schools that are open to all students. A charter school gives parents the choice of sending their children to a school that uses innovative methods to provide a quality education in a smaller, more responsive learning environment.[/QUOTE]


Is anyone actually buying this nonsense? Probably the same people that thought it was ok to buy a mansion while working at the Shell gas station.

This sure sounds like publicly funded private schools to me. If charter schools in this form are such a good idea (fiscally speaking) then why can't we provide a "smaller, more responsive learning environment..." for every public school student.

The answer is that we cannot.

The truth is this: If you want a better education for your children then you need to take responsibility at home. Turn off the TV and Video Games and teach them.