The Idaho Rural Education Task Force was formed in July 2007 with the goal of proposing and examining solutions to challenges facing rural schools. The task force's work this year has focused on three areas: recruitment and retention of highly qualified teachers, funding shortages related to insurance costs and staff allowances, and the technology…

At present, NIE, organizationally and in its staff concerns, is primarily oriented to issues as they apply to early learning and primary and secondary education. Currently, the postsecondary activities of NIE are within the Office of Research and Exploratory Studies where a task force on postsecondary education is located. The short-term contract…