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Idaho Senate Education committee votes to print resolution backing PragerU Kids materials after debate
Summary
The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to print Resolution RS 32072, which affirms legislative support for making PragerU Kids supplemental materials available to Idaho K–12 schools; the measure will go to the full Senate after a committee vote that recorded one opposition.
The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to print Resolution RS 32072 on supplemental materials from PragerU Kids, sending the nonbinding resolution to the full Senate after about 30 minutes of questioning and discussion. The measure, introduced by Sen. Tammy Nichols, affirms legislative support for allowing PragerU Kids materials to be made available as optional supplemental resources in Idaho K–12 classrooms.
Nichols, who introduced RS 32072, said the materials provide free optional resources in civics, financial literacy, history and entrepreneurship that are accessible online and intended to complement existing curriculum. "These resources ensure transparency for educators, parents, and students while reinforcing key academic subjects and promoting civic awareness, personal responsibility, and critical thinking," Nichols said. She also noted an Idaho Department of Education press release dated 10/24/2024 indicating department staff had reviewed the materials.
Committee members raised concerns about accuracy, pedagogy and oversight. Sen. Ward Engleking said he had read criticisms that PragerU content can contain misleading claims and accused it of promoting ideologies he found troubling; he said he would not support moving the resolution forward without a hearing. Sen. Semaroff asked whether the resources were created by trained educators and how factual accuracy and objectivity had been verified. Sen. Semaroff and others pressed Nichols for details about the Department of Education's review process and the extent to which the materials had been vetted.
Nichols said the Department of Education had "looked through" the materials and that the resources are supplemental and optional, not mandatory curriculum. "It's completely optional," Nichols said, adding that districts and local school boards retain authority to choose materials appropriate for their students and communities. She noted that the materials have been adopted in nine states, as described in the materials she presented to the committee.
After discussion, Sen. Woodward moved to print RS 32072; the motion was seconded and carried. The committee recorded one recorded opposition; Sen. Ward Engleking asked to be recorded as opposed. The resolution is a nonbinding legislative expression of support and does not require school districts to use the materials.
Procedural business earlier in the meeting included a motion to print all RS items on the agenda except RS 32,072; that motion carried by unanimous consent, and those items will move to print as well.
The committee did not adopt any binding change to Idaho's adopted curriculum or require districts to use the PragerU Kids materials. The resolution will next appear on the Senate floor, where members of the full Senate may debate or act on it.
