State education department details standards, graduation and special-education rule changes; committee debate focuses on communications and digital literacy

The Idaho Senate Education Committee heard a multi-part presentation from Greg Wilson, chief of staff at the Idaho Department of Education, on administrative rule dockets that would incorporate the 2024 content standards, adopt an updated Special Education Manual to comply with federal guidance, and revise high-school graduation requirements to add digital literacy, localize pathways and replace the senior project with a "future readiness" project.

Wilson told the committee the department facilitated multi-stakeholder reviews of content standards in 2024 and that the State Board of Education approved those standards in June and November 2024. He said the Special Education Manual was revised after the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) indicated parts of Idaho’s manual conflicted with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; the department revised the manual to bring districts into compliance for the current school year.

On graduation requirements Wilson said Idaho currently sets a statewide minimum of 46 credits (29 core academic credits and 17 electives) but many districts set higher local requirements. The proposed administrative changes…