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Senate Education committee moves resolution endorsing PragerU Kids materials to print after brief debate
Summary
The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to print RS 32072, a resolution expressing legislative support for making PragerU Kids supplemental resources available to K-12 teachers, after members debated accuracy and review processes. One senator recorded a nay vote.
The Senate Education Committee voted to print RS 32072 — a resolution introduced by Sen. Tammy Nichols supporting the inclusion of PragerU Kids supplemental materials in Idaho K-12 classrooms — sending the measure to the Senate floor after questions from committee members.
Senator Tammy Nichols, who represents District 10, told the committee RS 32072 “affirms Idaho legislature support for the inclusion of PragerU Kids supplemental education resources in Idaho public schools” and described the materials as “free optional educational materials for K through 12 students designed to complement traditional curriculum with engaging content on civics, financial literacy, history, and entrepreneurship.” She said the Idaho Department of Education issued a press release on Oct. 24, 2024, and that “PragerU Kids resources have been adopted in 9 states, including Idaho,” a claim Nichols cited while asking the committee to move the resolution to the floor.
Several senators raised concerns and questions about the content and review process for the materials. Senator Ward Engelking said he was “kind of confused about how this works” and that, based on what he had read, PragerU has been accused of promoting “fascism, racism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ politics” and that historians and political scientists have criticized some videos as containing “misleading or inaccurate claims.” Engelking said he would not be able to support moving the resolution to the floor without a fuller hearing.
Senator Semaroff asked what review processes the curriculum-review committee used to verify factual accuracy and objectivity. Nichols responded that because the resources are offered as supplemental materials — not mandated curriculum — they did not go through the same formal adoption process as state-mandated curriculum, and that the Department of Education had “looked through a lot of what PragerU had” and found it a “good fit for Idaho.” When asked whether the State Board or the Department had approved use in classrooms, Nichols said the Idaho Department of Education had given its approval for use in the state.
Senator Woodward clarified that the materials are supplemental resources “that might be incorporated into a classroom just on one day” and are not a replacement of core curriculum. Senator Zito framed the resolution as largely a commendation or acknowledgement of the Department’s decision to make the materials available.
After discussion, the committee voted to print RS 32072. The motion to print was moved by Senator Woodward (motion recorded on the transcript) and seconded; the committee chair called the question, and the motion passed with one senator recorded as voting nay. Senator Ward Engelking asked to have his no vote recorded.
The committee previously took a separate procedural vote to print all other RS items on the agenda except RS 32,072; that motion carried without recorded opposition.
The resolution will next appear on the Senate floor for further consideration. The transcript records the Department of Education press release date and the committee's discussion but does not supply independent verification of claims about adoption in other states or the specific review documents the Department used.
