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Department of Education reports updates to content standards, special‑education manual and proposed graduation requirement changes
Summary
The Idaho Department of Education presented updates to multiple content standards, a revised special‑education manual to meet federal requirements, and a package of proposed changes to high‑school graduation requirements emphasizing flexibility, digital literacy, localized pathways and a "future readiness" project.
Greg Wilson of the Idaho Department of Education briefed the House Education Committee on several administrative rule updates, including newly revised content standards, a revised Idaho special‑education manual updated for federal compliance, and a package of proposed changes to high‑school graduation requirements.
"Content standards are reviewed at least every 6 years by teams of educators and stakeholders," Wilson told the committee, describing a multi‑stage process that included educator committees, drafts, and a public comment period. The department said it reviewed driver education, arts and humanities, world language, social studies, and computer science, among other content areas, and that the board adopted updated standards on June 12, 2024.
On special education, Wilson said the department revised the Idaho special education manual after a letter from the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs found portions of the manual were not compliant with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. "The department conducted a thorough review of the manual... to be compliant with federal law," Wilson said; the revised manual was approved by the board on Nov. 21, 2024.
Wilson also summarized proposed changes to the state's minimum high‑school graduation requirements, which the department said retain the 46‑credit state minimum but add flexibility to how core credits are met, designate digital literacy as a core requirement, create "localized pathways" to reflect regional workforce needs, and replace the senior project with a "future readiness" project. The department emphasized most districts exceed the state minimum credits and noted a broad stakeholder engagement process that included region‑wide meetings.
Legislators asked for details on committee composition that drafted the standards and on alignment between standards, curriculum and assessments. Wilson committed to provide committee members with lists of content‑review committee membership and the department's incorporated‑by‑reference links. No rules were adopted at the meeting; the department said more detailed negotiation and follow‑up would occur.
