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 57 credits and Xavier Charter School at 52). The rules attempt to preserve the 46-credit baseline while allowing districts to continue requiring additional local credits.

- Communications/speech: The pending rule removes a standalone communications requirement from the statewide core. Wilson told the committee the change reflects that "there were no stand alone standards for communications" and that many districts deliver communication skills integrated across courses or via the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. He said districts that want a stand-alone speech course may retain it as a local elective.

- Digital literacy: The proposed new core requirement is one credit in digital literacy. The department listed key components that would be included in the course: "fundamental computer science concepts such as algorithms, coding, artificial intelligence, Internet safety and social media best practices," plus "citizenship in a digital world, including communications through digital means and navigating online news and information critically while behaving responsibly and ethically." Wilson said industry partners and local employers view such skills as essential across sectors, including agriculture and manufacturing.

- Credit flexibility and localized pathways: The rules would allow districts and charter schools to award core academic credit for performance-based experiences (work-based learning, apprenticeships, CTE) if local offerings are cross-walked to state standards. Districts and charters would also be required to develop and publicly post at least two "localized pathways" (examples: four-year college preparation, military readiness, apprenticeships/trades, or industry-aligned CTE pathways).

- Future readiness project: The existing senior project would remain in place through the class of 2027. Beginning with the class of 2028 the department proposes a future readiness project, a culminating experiential requirement that "must include an experiential component such as a work based, service based, research based, or portfolio based experience in which a student demonstrates the acquisition of the board adopted college and career competencies," Wilson said. The department intends to provide templates and professional learning supports for districts.

- Special education: The proposed rules strike a section of administrative rule (section 109) that previously duplicated material found in the updated Idaho Special Education Manual. Wilson said the manual is the operational guidance special education professionals use and the rules were removed to avoid conflicts: "they don't go to administrative rule to find this information, so that's why that section was struck."

Committee reaction and concerns

Several committee members praised the effort to modernize requirements but raised specific concerns about removing a standalone communications/speech requirement and about implementation supports for the new expectations.

Representative Nelson said communication skills were critically important in his view, arguing social and face-to-face communication merits emphasis: "kids today are so into their I mean, they're standing beside each other, texting to each other. Technology is almost replaced face to face. ... When you come out of high school ... being able to communicate with people, work in teams, and function is a really important skill." Representative Tanner and others reported receiving emails and constituent concerns urging retention of speech and debate as core offerings.

Members also asked about teacher endorsements and readiness to teach digital literacy. Wilson said holders of a standard instructional certificate with suitable grade-range endorsements (for example grades 5–9 or 6–12) or a public charter school certificate would be eligible to teach digital literacy, but that the department recognizes the standard will require professional development and clear course parameters to ensure rigor.

Implementation supports and outreach

Wilson told the committee the department will provide templates, professional learning communities, and outreach materials. When asked for records of the negotiated-rulemaking and workgroup outreach, he said the department would provide available meeting minutes and attendee lists: "we can provide, yeah, we would be glad to provide as much of information as we have."

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve minutes of Jan. 16 and Jan. 20 (mover: Representative Tanner). Outcome: approved (voice vote; committee chair announced motion carries). No formal roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

What’s next

The department presented two temporary-rule dockets to preserve continuity while the Legislature considers the pending rules: one incorporates the 2024 content standards by reference and another incorporates the Idaho Special Education Manual by reference. The committee did not take final action on the pending graduation-rule docket during the hearing; committee members were told the department will return for a later action that will include the outreach documentation and additional detail on implementation.

Sources: Presentation to the House Education Committee by Greg Wilson, chief of staff, State Department of Education, pending rule docket No. 0802032401 and related temporary dockets; committee discussion and public-record comments recorded during the hearing.