9486 in the collection
Education out of towners
Ohanian Comment: Laurie Boeckel did a neat bit of research here. Try it for your own neck of the words. Locals should be very interested in how far their school dollars travel from home.
Laurie Boeckel Comment:
Isn't it ironic that in the "Buy Idaho" ad the Gov states, when you buy Idaho money stays in Idaho to help our roads and schools...
But they sure do not address the MILLIONS in Education dollars that appointed and elected officials send out of Idaho to "for profit " companies...including those with some interesting GOP ties.
by Randy Stapilus
Correspondent Laurie Boeckel, who intensively follows Idaho education matters, had a suggestion following up our recent post about out of state organizations which have a lobbying presence in Boise: How about those from out of state that have an interest in Idaho education?
There are several, and worth noting. Here’s some of what she pointed to, and some of our notes:
- Data Recognition Corporation (Maple Grove, Minnesota). It remarks, “We customize state testing programs to meet your requirements and exceed your expectations. DRC currently partners with state departments of education across the country to develop and administer full-service large-scale student educational assessment programs.” This is the firm that underlay some of the big headlines connected with state Board of Education budgeting problems and overspending; it had a $22 million contract with the board for managing the Idaho Standards Achievement Test. In January the board voted 5-2 to amend the contract, canceling testing in the second and ninth grades. Talking with legislative budgeters about the testing situation, Board President said that “Somewhere within the (contract) response, those things were overlooked.” Lobbyists: Lyn Darrington, McKinsey Miller.
- K 12 Corporation (Herndon, Virginia). You hear a good deal in the headlines about the Idaho Virtual Academy, an on-line school which has considerable support among top Idaho elected officials. The company that provides the curriculum, that is essentially the key plyer at the IDVA, is K 12. Lobbyist: Suzanne Budge.
- Connections Academy, LLC (Baltimore, Maryland). Another cyber-school, with programs in Idaho. Lobbyist: Jeremy Pisca.
- University of Phoenix (Phoenix, Arizona). A note here: The University of Phoenix home base is listed in lobbyist reports as Meridian, Idaho, where it does have operations, but the organization is based in Arizona. (Idaho is one of 39 states with UP locations.) It is owned by the Apollo Group, which has its own fascinating history. Lobbyist: Jeremy Pisca.
— Randy Stapilus and Laurie Boeckel
blog
2008-03-04
http://www.ridenbaugh.com/index.php/2008/03/04/education-out-of-towners/
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
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