Hundreds rally against new education plan

BOISE, Idaho (AP):

More than 1,000 teachers, parents and students rallied in front of the Idaho Capitol in their fight to beat back public schools chief Tom Luna's plan to overhaul public education.

The sweeping overhaul was introduced in the Idaho Senate earlier this month. It would introduce merit pay and eliminate tenure for new teachers while expanding online courses and technology in the classroom. The state would increase class sizes to help pay for the reforms and cut about 770 teaching positions.

While Luna has called on lawmakers to restructure how Idaho's scarce education dollars are spent, opponents of the plan have railed against increased class sizes and the job cuts.

Protesters gathered at Capitol Park in downtown Boise and chanted "Kill the Bills!" while waving signs that read "Save Our Teachers".