EDUCATION

"If the governor really believes he’s done, he’s the only one who thinks he’s at the finish line that I know of," said Lance Melton, executive director of the Montana School Boards Association.

Many believe in one specific education and economic development strategy that will, by itself, do more than any other strategy to break the cycle of poverty as well as optimize future economic growth in the United States.

That strategy is to invest significantly in quality early education and preschool programs.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and Boise State University will stay the course on their plans for community colleges in Idaho, regardless of whether an Oregon-based school opens in the Boise-Meridian area this fall.

It’s difficult to prove what actually makes one state outperform another. Key factors such as per-pupil spending and student demographics vary widely, even among top-performing states.

Here’s a modest, progressive suggestion for educational reform: give vouchers equal to 50 percent of governmental funding to the parents. This will provide the incentives to create an educational environment that rewards good teaching, encourages parental involvement, rewards positive innovation, and gives our most disadvantaged hope for the future.

“All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or disciplinary sanction by the university.

Why is it true, nationwide, that the 18-25 age group votes the least and does the least civic service?

‘Today we’re presenting a total package that in Florida, we don’t only want to recruit you — we want to retain you,”