New standards recommended to revise science standards

A State Department of Education committee has made its recommendations revising Idaho’s science standards. By will of the legislature, the new standards for public schools removed five standards related to climate change. In April, the State Department held public hearings on the proposed changes. A committee comprised of state educators met May 12 and revised the standards based on that feedback. “I appreciate all the Idahoans who took time to participate in the process,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra. “I also want to thank the science standards committee for its hard work this spring and the prior two years as it identified the standards that would support our state’s goal to grow our STEM focus in education to meet the demands of our economy.” You can see the proposed revisions here. The new standards will be incorporated into a proposed rule that will go to the State Board of Education for review in August. After another round of public comment, the rule will be finalized and sent to the legislature for adoption in January 2018.