UI Republicans!

New elect Labrador gets down to business

Idaho Rep.-elect Labrador names NRA lobbyist, former House aide as chief of staff

First District Republican Rep.-elect Raul Labrador announced three hires Thursday, including his top aide, John Goodwin, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. Goodwin was formerly communications director for Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., and press secretary to former Rep. Rob Simmons, R-Conn.

“John’s vast Capitol Hill experience will be an excellent resource to Idaho as I begin the people’s work in Congress,” Labrador said in a news release. Goodwin was born in Rhode Island and graduated from Marymount University.

Labrador also named his campaign finance director, Mike Cunnington, as his scheduler and personal assistant. And his campaign spokesman, Phil Hardy, will be regional director for central and southwest Idaho.

Cunnington, a native of Nampa, graduated from Skyview High School and Boise State University.

“Mike has proven himself to be a very valued member of my team and I am delighted he has agreed to come to Washington to assist me,” Labrador said. “His attention to detail, his dedication and his sense of professionalism are qualities I have come to rely on.”

Hardy was communications director for the Idaho Senate Republicans in the 2009 and 2010 sessions, and worked for Lt. Governor Brad Little between sessions. He graduated from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

“My district staff is going to serve an important role as I represent the people of Idaho's First Congressional District and Phil’s dedication and knowledge will be an important asset to me in that endeavor," Labrador said. "I am in the process of building a talented and dedicated team to help me serve the people of Idaho, and I am proud to add these individuals to my roster."

Earlier, Labrador named Jake Ball as his district director. Ball has worked on the congressional and campaign staffs of U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo.

Thanks IdahoStatesman.com for your write up!

Republicans Take the House!

Congratulations College Republican's! With some of your help the Republican Party was able to take more than 60 seats in the house!

(CNN) -- There is a new speaker in town.
Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, will be the new Speaker of the House, replacing Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, as the GOP rolled in Tuesday's midterm elections, gaining a majority for the first time in four years.
The Republican Party will pick up more than 60 seats in the legislature, a statistical analysis of exit polls by CNN projects. That's a comfortable margin over the 39 seats needed to wrest control from the Democrats.
Unrest over the economy and government spending, as well as the surge of Tea Party politics, helped propel the GOP. Tuesday's outcome was comparable to the 1994 so-called "Republican Revolution," when the GOP took 54 seats from the Democrats.
It is also the largest number of House pickups since Democrats picked up 75 seats in 1948.
As of 2 a.m. ET Wednesday, the Republicans held 231 seats to the Democrats' 169. At least 218 seats are needed for a majority.
"It's clear tonight who the winners really are, and that's the American people," Boehner said Tuesday night in front of a crowd chanting, "Speaker! Speaker!"
The election was a repudiation of big government and politicians who refuse to listen to their constituents, he said.
The message to President Barack Obama was clear, Boehner said: "Change course."
Under a Republican majority, "the people's priorities will be our priorities," an emotional Boehner said.
Obama called Boehner and said he was "looking forward to working with him and the Republicans to find common ground, move the country forward and get things done for the American people," the White House said.
Boehner's camp described the call as "brief but pleasant." The Republican leader told Obama that he's always been straightforward with him in the past, and will continue to be so.
The ramifications of a Republican majority were tempered by the projection that the Senate will remain in Democratic hands. With a Democrat in the White House and a Democratic Senate, both parties will have to reach compromise or risk gridlock in the legislature.
Key Republicans have already hinted that compromise is not a priority on their agenda, as many of them were swept into office precisely because of dissatisfaction with Obama's policies.
The GOP made sizable inroads in Virginia, where a trio of Democratic incumbents were projected to lose, according to CNN analysis of exit poll data. Reps. Tom Perriello, Rick Boucher and Glenn Nye, of the state's 5th, 9th and 2nd congressional districts, respectively, are projected to be out of office.
Republican Robert Hurd won the 5th District, and Morgan Griffith won the 9th District, CNN projected. Republican challenger Scott Rigell won in the 2nd District.
In Florida's 8th District, Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson, a lightening rod for his confrontational and sometimes rude attitude toward his political opponents, lost his seat, CNN projected. Republican Dan Webster, whom Grayson chided as "Taliban Dan" in what many considered an unfair attack ad, will be the area's new congressman.
Two other seats in Florida also switched hands in the Republican's favor. Democratic Rep. Allen Boyd was projected to lose to GOP candidate Steve Southerland. In Florida's 24th district, GOP challenger Sandy Adams will take the place of Rep. Suzanne Kosmas.
With about 100 of the 435 House seats at stake considered "in play," or competitive, an anti-Democratic mood was predicted to result in big Republican gains.
In a statement early Wednesday, Pelosi defended the work Democrats have done in the House.
"Over the last four years, the Democratic Majority in the House took courageous action on behalf of America's middle class to create jobs and save the country from the worst economic catastrophe since the Great Depression," she said.
She urged lawmakers to help move the nation forward.
"We must all strive to find common ground to support the middle class, create jobs, reduce the deficit and move our nation forward."
In Texas, a moderate Democrat, Chet Edwards, who has been a member of the House since 1991, saw his time in Washington come to end. Republican Bill Flores ousted Edwards, who long had represented a conservative district by siding with Republicans on some key votes, including voting against the health care bill.
Other moderate Democrats were able to save their seats. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-North Carolina, was among those in his party who campaigned by running away from it, distancing himself in a debate from Pelosi. He kept his seat Tuesday night, CNN projected.
One moderate Republican wasn't as lucky.
Joseph Cao, a Republican from Louisiana's 2nd district, was the only GOPer to vote in favor of the health care bill. On Tuesday, his constituents elected Democratic challenger Cedric Richmond. That Democratic gain in the state was offset by the projected outcome in the 3rd district, where an open Democratic seat went to Republican Jeff Landry.
Heading into election day, the Democrats had a 255 to 178 advantage in the house, not including two vacancies. Republicans needed to win an additional 39 seats to claim the House majority.
In addition to anti-Democrat sentiments due to a slow economic recovery and what is seen as increased government spending, the advent of the Tea Party movement also played a role in these elections.
The Tea Party has boosted little-known candidates to victory in primaries over mainstream figures across the country. How they fare in the general election will be seen Tuesday. Win or lose, the impact of this group is expected to shift the Republican agenda to the right. That means little chance of compromise or bipartisan approaches on major issues, observers say.
Already, Boehner, has signaled he is not planning to negotiate with the White House or congressional Democrats on his party's top issues.
"This is not a time for compromise, and I can tell you that we will not compromise on our principles," Boehner said last week on Sean Hannity's program.
Recognizing that discontent with Democrats comes from the economic situation and record deficit spending, a priority for the Republicans will be to focus on fiscal issues.

House Republicans have promised to cut $100 billion from the federal budget in the first year, rolling back spending to 2008 levels.

College Republicans, this midterm election could be one of the most important elections you vote in! Read this article from the New York Times.
G.O.P. Is Poised to Seize House, if Not Senate

By JEFF ZELENY and CARL HULSE

Published: October 23, 2010

WASHINGTON — A costly and polarizing Congressional campaign heads into its closing week with Republicans in a strong position to win the House but with Democrats maintaining a narrow edge in the battle for the Senate, according to a race-by-race review and lawmakers and strategists on both sides.

President Obama campaigned for a fourth consecutive day on Saturday as the Democratic Party threw its full weight into preventing a defeat of historic proportions in an election shaped by a sour economy, intense debate over the White House’s far-reaching domestic agenda and the rise of a highly energized grass-roots conservative movement.

But Republicans have placed enough seats into play that Democrats now seem likely to give up many of the gains they made in the last two election cycles, leaving Washington on the brink of a substantial shift in the balance of power.

The final nine days of the midterm election are unfolding across a wide landscape, with several dozen House races close enough to break either way, determining whether the election produces a Republican wave that reaches deep into the Democratic ranks. In the Senate, Democrats were bracing to lose seats, but the crucial contests remained highly fluid as Republicans struggled to pull away in several Democratic-leaning states.

The candidates, political parties and a torrent of outside groups made fresh strategic investments and pumped yet another multimillion-dollar wave of television advertising into House races across the country, hoping to press their advantages across a battleground that has expanded to nearly 100 districts.

In the House, 28 Democratic seats are either leaning Republican or all but lost to Republican candidates, according to the latest ratings of Congressional races by The New York Times, while 40 seats held by Democrats are seen as tossups. To win a majority, Republicans need to pick up a net of 39 seats; to reach that threshold they will probably have to win at least 44 seats now held by Democrats to offset a handful of projected Democratic victories in Republican-held districts.

In the Senate, races for Democratic-held seats in California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Washington and West Virginia are rated as tossups by The Times. Republicans seem assured of taking Democratic seats in other states, including Arkansas and Indiana, but must win at least five of the seven most competitive remaining races to seize a majority, and Democrats improved their standing in at least three of those states last week.

In the final week of campaigning, Democrats are planning new investments to protect Senator Patty Murray in Washington, while Republicans are strengthening their effort to defeat Senator Barbara Boxer of California.

Candidates began closing arguments on Saturday, reprising divisions over Mr. Obama’s economic stimulus bill and clashing over private investment accounts for Social Security, an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts and a host of domestic policies.

While the outlook is grim for Democrats in the House, according to interviews with candidates, pollsters and consultants involved in races, the field remains volatile and strong voter turnout could save some seats. Yet even by conservative calculations, Republicans are well within reach of winning back a majority they lost four years ago.

“There are Democratic candidates who still appear to be in the race, but our candidates are delivering the fatal blow,” said Representative Pete Sessions of Texas, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. “If we look all across the country, we are seeing incumbent Democrats in a world of hurt.”

A wave of anxiety swept across Democrats, regardless of seniority, geographic region or whether they voted for Mr. Obama’s agenda on the hot-button issues of health care, economic stimulus or climate change legislation.

Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, gave a personal loan of $200,000 to his campaign to wage his toughest fight in years.

Representative John D. Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, the longest-serving member, invited former President Bill Clinton to his district for two stops on Sunday. Representative Gene Taylor, Democrat of Mississippi, who often is a reliable vote for Republicans, struggled to defend a seat he has held for two decades.

Republicans went after Mr. Taylor with a TV ad that opens with the precise moment Mr. Taylor supported Representative Nancy Pelosi for speaker in 2007 to the applause of his colleagues on the House floor. “This is the moment Democrat Gene Taylor turned his back on us,” the narrator said, echoing a theme that has emerged in district after district.

As they face the certainty of losses, Democrats are in a sense victims of their own success after winning 55 seats and expanding far into conservative territory over the last two election cycles. Now they are trying to defy history and demographics as they struggle to hang on to the districts in a midterm election with their party in the White House.

“We’re duking it out everywhere,” said Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Should the Democrats manage to hang on to the House, it would be considered a major political upset at this point.

Republicans focused their efforts heavily on the Ohio River Valley, hoping to win back a trove of districts in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Democrats were trying to build a firewall in the Northeast, including seats in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania, where a strong performance could keep Republicans from repeating their 1994 sweep, when they captured 54 seats.

With time running out, leaders of both parties planned to spend the weekend in districts across the country. Mr. Obama appeared on Saturday evening in Minneapolis with Ms. Pelosi, raising $600,000 to help pay for a final burst of advertising for House candidates. As she sought to rally the Democratic crowd, she said: “When the public knows the choice, we think that we will win — we know.”

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, appeared in West Virginia with the top Republican candidates, while Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the likely speaker if Republicans take the House, campaigned Saturday in Kentucky on behalf of Andy Barr, a Republican who is trying to upend Representative Ben Chandler, a conservative Democrat.

Yet other vulnerable Democrats continued to hang tough, and their resilience led Republicans to look elsewhere to find Democrats who had not prepared for difficult contests.

Representative Tom Perriello of Virginia, who for months has been seen by Republicans as among the most endangered freshmen Democrats, is now in a race seen as one that could go either way. Representative Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, whose district was aggressively pursued by Republicans, said he had seen his re-election prospects improve in recent weeks as voters have focused more closely on the contest, and he said he expected many of his embattled Democratic colleagues to prevail.

“I am normally an optimistic fellow, but I am also realistic,” Mr. Perlmutter said in an interview. “I have been talking to my buddies, and they are in tough races. But they are still right in it.”

Democrats are seeking to diminish their losses by mobilizing key voting blocs, particularly suburban and upper-income voters who can be motivated by concerns about Republicans returning to power in Washington and imposing a conservative, antigovernment agenda while trying to undo much of what Democrats pushed through Congress. Students and black voters, who offered crucial support in Mr. Obama’s 2008 campaign, are also important constituencies in several districts across the Midwest, Northeast and South.

“I think they are going to show up far beyond what the polling indicates, and that is the secret to winning,” said Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat in the House, who appeared for candidates in Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, Minnesota and New York, with plans to stump in the Carolinas next week.

“What I am seeing district by district is a different result than if you are looking at the House over all,” said Mr. Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress.

Even though Republican optimism is high in the closing days, party leaders have ordered lawmakers and candidates to avoid overconfidence.

“It’s a battle to the end,” said Representative Greg Walden of Oregon, a vice chairman of the Republican Congressional committee. “But only 20 months ago, Republicans were viewed like mold — not really alive, but you couldn’t kill us either. We’ve come back.”

University of Idaho College Republicans,
Know your candidates!

Idaho Governor Race
• Butch Otter , 68
Republican

Bio: Current governor, served three terms in Congress, representing 1st District; rancher; lieutenant governor, 1987-2000; executive, J.R. Simplot Co., 1965-1993; state representative, 1973-1976; Idaho Army National Guard veteran; bachelor’s degree, College of Idaho. Married, four children and five grandchildren.

Campaign promises: “I am committed to keep working tirelessly to grow Idaho’s economy and career opportunities for our citizens and our communities; I promise to keep protecting the people of Idaho from the additional financial burden of government excess; I promise to do even more to ensure that state government lives within the people’s means; I promise to keep protecting and improving educational opportunities for all Idahoans; I promise to promote greater liberty, wider opportunity and more economic prosperity; and I promise to keep protecting Idaho’s family and faith-based values.”

Notable: Otter is a rodeo enthusiast who still competes from time to time in team roping; he has a long tradition of entering rodeos around the state as he campaigns for office.


• Keith Allred , 46
Democrat

Bio: Founder and president of The Common Interest, a nonpartisan citizen group; professional mediator; taught conflict resolution and leadership, first as a professor at Columbia University and then at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government; bachelor’s degree, Stanford University; Ph.D. in organizational behavior/conflict resolution, UCLA. Married, three children.

Campaign promises: “I have two main priorities: lower taxes to help small businesses generate more jobs, and a stronger education system. We cannot build a great state without making sure we give all of our kids an equal opportunity for a great education.”

Notable: Allred is a horseman who twice competed in the National Cutting Horse Association championships, in 2003 and 2004; he still keeps horses and goes on trail rides with his family.


Idaho 1st congressional race
• Walt Minnick , 68
Incumbent Democrat

Bio: Incumbent congressman; chairman, Summerwinds Garden Centers, 1996-2008; ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate, 1996; wood products executive, 1974-1995, rising to CEO of TJ International; U.S. Army veteran; former aide in Nixon White House; law degree, Harvard Law School; MBA, Harvard Business School; bachelor’s degree, Whitman College. Married, four children, three grandchildren.

Campaign promises: “I am running to continue working hard for Idaho veterans, seniors and families. Whether it’s fighting red tape for a small business, helping a family with an adoption or standing firm for fiscal responsibility, I promise to always do what’s right for Idaho.”

Notable: A former Republican who was president of the College Republicans at Whitman College, Minnick’s shift to Democrat went public in 1996, when he challenged Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. He’s married to a former Idaho Democratic Party chief.


• Raul Labrador , 42
Republican

Bio: Two-term state representative; immigration attorney; owner/managing partner, Labrador Law Offices; law degree, University of Washington; bachelor’s degree, Brigham Young University. Married, five children.

Campaign promises: “I will bring true Idaho conservative values to Washington, D.C. I will always fight for my principles and the principles of the Republican Party: limited government, lower taxes and a commitment to creating jobs without more bailouts or adding to the national debt.”

Notable: Labrador beat a better-funded candidate, Iraq veteran Vaughn Ward, in the GOP primary in May. Labrador made his mark in the Idaho House spearheading opposition to GOP Gov. Butch Otter’s proposal for a gas tax increase.


Idaho U.S. Senate race
• Mike Crapo , 59
Incumbent Republican

Bio: Two terms in U.S. Senate, three in U.S. House; eight years in Idaho Senate; Harvard-educated lawyer; Bachelor of arts, Brigham Young University; Idaho Falls resident. Married, five children and two grandchildren.

Campaign promises: “I promise to work hard for Idahoans, fight to protect our Constitution, eliminate the national debt and our culture of deficit spending, reduce federal regulations that choke our economy, cut the size, expense and control of the federal government, and always to listen to Idahoans to find common sense solutions to our problems.”

Notable: In his Owyhee Initiative, Crapo helped bring together ranchers, conservationists and more in a collaborative wilderness proposal that was signed into law. He’s also a prostate cancer survivor who’s crusaded for early detection.


 P. Tom Sullivan , 42
Democrat

Bio: Owns credit card processing business in eastern Idaho; partner in a weekly newspaper; first run for office; former owner of Tubbs Cafe in Coeur d’Alene; high school equivalency degree. Married, two children.

Campaign promises: “I will work to see ‘Made in America’ again; I will support small business, fair taxes and responsible spending to avoid ever repeating the enormous deficit racked up between 2000 and 2008 and I’ll vote in the interests of the people of Idaho, not for Wall Street interests; I will work to bring new technology, jobs, training and education to make Idaho a green energy leader in 21st century.”

Notable: Sullivan, who has both federal and state tax debt after a bank failure left his business struggling with the credit crunch, has been critical of Crapo’s record on financial issues, accusing him of promoting corporate interests over small businesses.


Idaho superintendent of schools race• Tom Luna , 51
Incumbent Republican

Bio: Incumbent superintendent, elected in 2006; senior adviser to U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, 2003 to 2005; businessman, owner of Scales Unlimited; served on Nampa, Idaho, school board, including three years as chairman; attended Ricks College and Boise State University; online bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison University in liberal arts with focus in measurement science, 2002. Married, six children, five grandchildren.

Campaign promises: “My goal is to continue to change the culture of education to a customer driven system where we make decisions based on the customers of education and not what’s best and most comfortable for the bureaucracy of education. Idaho is now recognized as a leader in student achievement, and my commitment is to continue to fight for the resources and reforms to keep student achievement moving forward.”

Notable: Doing a combination of running and walking, Luna has completed three marathons in the past year and a half.



• Stan Olson , 60
Democrat

Bio: Boise School District superintendent, 2002 to retirement on June 30 of this year; education career started as teacher and coach in 1971, included administrative posts in Michigan and Wyoming before Idaho; doctoral degree in educational leadership, Western Michigan University, 1983; master’s degree in education, Eastern Michigan University, 1977; bachelor’s degree in education, Central Michigan University, 1970. Married, two children, two grandchildren

Campaign promises: “Forty years of educational experience has taught me that collaboration with parents, legislators, students, educators, and business leaders to build a strategic plan is the best way to help every student in Idaho succeed. I promise to cultivate such relationships to produce verifiable educational results, guarantee adequate funding for top priorities, ensure post-secondary readiness, and focus on educational success for all children, not on political ideology.”

Notable: Olson is a competitive speed walker and has competed in 21 marathons.


Thank you SpokesmanReview.com for giving voters the information they need to vote!

UI College Republicans will host Idaho Lt. Gov., Brad Little Oct., 6 2010.  Here is Lt., Gov., Brad Little's biography!

Brad Little was appointed Lt. Governor of Idaho on January 6, 2009 and is the 37th person to have held the position since statehood was granted in 1890.
A native of Emmett in Gem County, Little is a third-generation Idahoan.  He has dedicated his life and career to continuing both his family’s ranching interests and its history of service to the people of Idaho.
A graduate of the University of Idaho, Little has strived to be a good steward of the land as well as a responsible citizen.  He has succeeded in both areas by encouraging sustainable agriculture and by getting involved in public policy from a young age.
Little was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in May, 2001, and was subsequently elected and reelected senator from District 11 four times.
In the Idaho Senate, Little rose quickly into leadership, being elected by his peers as Majority Caucus Chairman in 2003.  He held this position until Governor Otter appointed him to fill the vacancy left by then Lt. Governor Jim Risch’s election to the U.S. Senate in January of 2009. 
Little’s personal philosophy has been consistent throughout his career:  to ensure the lightest possible hand of government in the lives of citizens and businesses alike. 
A successful businessman himself as the head of Little Enterprises, Inc. (a diversified farming and cattle operation), Little is a former chairman of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI),  the Idaho Wool Growers Association, and vice-chairman of the Idaho Community Foundation.  He is currently a member of the board of directors of Home Federal Bank as well as Performance Design Incorporated -- a small Boise-based manufacturing company.
In his personal life, Little married Weiser native Teresa Soulen in May 1978 and they have two sons and daughters-in-law, Adam and Angela, and David and Kelsey.

For UI College Republicans I thought I would post this on my blog. I think this will help participating students to know what Idaho Republicans believe and what platform they stand for!

IDAHO REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
ADOPTED JUNE 26, 2010, IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO
PREAMBLE
WE ARE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE:
We believe the strength of our nation lies with our faith and reliance on God our Creator,
the individual, and the family; and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability and
responsibility must be honored.
We believe the United States Constitution is the greatest and most inspired document
ever devised by Man, and that the republican form of government which it gives us is the
best guarantor of freedom in history.
We believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race,
creed, sex, age or disability.
We believe free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this Nation
opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
We believe government must practice fiscal responsibility, and that taxpayers shall allow
the government only the money necessary to provide appropriate functions.
We believe the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical
functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations.
We believe the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government
closest to the people. That government is best that governs least.
We believe Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong, while
developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
We believe Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while
working to promote peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.
We believe that the rights of individuals can only be maintained by exercising personal
responsibility for behavior.
We believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into
positive and successful principles of government.

For more information you can visit: http://www.idgop.org/atf/cf/%7B09d3c7cb-a258-4cf2-a234-d740df06ecd1%7D/2010%20IDAHO%20GOP%20PLATFORM.PDF

I thought this posting by The Department of Education's Public Information Officer Melissa McGrath was interesting. Idaho Education is having to re-vamp itself and this posting shows that Idaho students are stilling pushing forward despite budget cuts

Idaho Students Outpace Nation on College Readiness

Idaho students continue to outpace students nationally in their preparation for postsecondary education, according to the most recent results of the ACT.
Despite this progress, the ACT report still showed far too many Idaho students are graduating high school without the skills they need to be successful in college or the workforce, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said.
The ACT, similar to the SAT, is an assessment that students take before applying to institutions of higher education. The ACT measures students’ college-readiness in the areas of English, math, reading and science.
“While Idaho students have continued to make progress on the ACT since 2007, I recognize we still have a long way to go. As State Superintendent, my goal is for every student not only to graduate from high school but to graduate with the skills necessary to be successful in postsecondary education or the workforce, without the need for remediation,” Superintendent Luna said.
Idaho’s average composite score has risen since 2007, consistently outpacing the national average. In 2010, Idaho students scored an average 21.8 composite score, compared to the national average of 21.0. The highest possible score is a 36.
Twenty-six percent of Idaho students met or exceeded the college-readiness benchmarks in English, math, reading and science, compared to just 24 percent of students nationally. The college-readiness benchmarks are defined by ACT as scores that indicate students will likely be ready for entry-level coursework in college.
Still, despite being above the national average in both composite score and college-readiness indicators, far too many Idaho students are not meeting these benchmarks.
Since taking office in 2007, Superintendent Luna has worked to ensure every Idaho student graduates from high school prepared to live, work and succeed in the 21st century.
He joined Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter to lead the Education of Alliance for the past two years in its effort to develop and implement a vision and mission for Idaho’s public education system, specifically focusing on raising student achievement and improving the number of students who graduate from high school prepared for college or career.
The Education Alliance is made up of the leaders of key educational stakeholder groups representing teachers, administrators, school board trustees and parents as well as leaders of major corporations across Idaho.
In 2009, the group published its Transformational Education Agenda for the State of Idaho.
As a part of these efforts, Superintendent Luna has also fought to raise the bar on Idaho’s content standards, the standards students are expected to learn and know by the end of each grade.
In 2009, Idaho joined and became an integral part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, an effort to develop more rigorous, common standards in mathematics and English language arts among states that will be comparable to any country around the world.
These proposed Common Core State Standards have been adopted by more than 30 states around the country and are now up for approval before the Idaho State Board of Education. If approved, they will go before the Idaho Legislature in January.
These are just some of the ways in which Superintendent Luna and members of the Education Alliance of Idaho are working to improve the level college- and career-readiness among Idaho’s students.

~ Melissa M.