Idaho education department proposes digital literacy requirement, revises graduation rules; committee questions removal of standalone speech credit

BOISE — The House Education Committee heard an overview Wednesday of proposed revisions to Idaho's statewide graduation requirements, including a new one-credit digital literacy requirement, expanded credit flexibility to allow work-based and CTE experiences to satisfy core credits, a requirement that districts publish at least two localized pathways, and a replacement of the existing senior project with a ‘‘future readiness’’ project for the class of 2028 and after.

Greg Wilson, chief of staff at the State Department of Education, presented the pending rule docket (No. 0802032401) and told the committee the department aimed to keep the statewide minimum at 46 credits while modernizing what those credits signify. "The statewide graduation requirements really hadn't been comprehensively reviewed in over 10 years," Wilson said, adding the department wanted rules that reflect "what we expect students to know and do in 2025 and beyond." The department plans a three-year implementation window; the digital literacy requirement would apply to students graduating on or after Jan. 1, 2028.

Why it matters: The proposed changes set schoolwide minima that affect all Idaho public high school graduates, while preserving local control for districts and charter schools to add or retain more rigorous or specialized requirements. The package directly touches curriculum (computer science, civics in a digital environment), career and technical education (CTE) pathways, and special education practice by incorporating a revised special education manual.

Key details

- Credits: The department reiterated the statewide minimum of 46 credits (29 core academic credits and 17 elective credits) and said many local districts already exceed that minimum (Wilson cited West Bonner School District at…