(BOISE) – The Idaho Legislature’s budget-setting committee proposes a $109 million increase in public school funding for the 2019-20 school year, representing a total boost to K-12 funding of well over half a billion dollars since Superintendent Sherri Ybarra took office five years ago.
News Releases
(BOISE) – Appearing this afternoon before a joint meeting of the Idaho House and Senate Education Committees, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra outlined her concerns about a proposal to change how the state funds K-12 education.
– Idaho’s Presidential Scholar candidates announced January 28, 2019
(BOISE) – More than 50 Idaho high school seniors from throughout Idaho are in the running as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, according to the national committee that organizes the program on behalf of the White House.
– SDE announces student winners of Investing in My Future contest January 24, 2019
(BOISE) – Young Idaho artists with big dreams for the future got a shoutout from Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra Thursday during her budget presentation to the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations committee.
– Superintendent Ybarra outlines plans in JFAC budget presentation January 24, 2019
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra outlined her vision for the future of Idaho’s public schools Thursday morning in her budget presentation to the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.
– Guest opinion: The future looks bright for Idaho students January 22, 2019
(BOISE) – Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, understood the connection between perseverance and success. He is credited with saying, “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” I predict a bright future for our students because Idaho is creating an education system that prepares our kids to thrive in the 21st century economy.
– Idaho’s high school graduation rate is on the rise January 17, 2019
(BOISE) – With the Class of 2018, Idaho’s statewide graduation rate topped 80 percent for the first time, continuing a steady, positive trend, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said Thursday.
(BOISE) – The Child Nutrition Division of the Idaho State Department of Education is looking for partners for this year’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals and snacks to children ages 1 to 18 whose families may not be able to afford to give their children nutritious meals when school is not in session.
(BOISE) – Midway through the first school year under Idaho’s new accountability plan, it’s time to look at ways to maximize its effectiveness in helping at-risk students and recognizing success.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is partnering with State Controller Brandon Woolf to make the State Department of Education the third state agency to publish detailed financial records via Transparent.Idaho.gov.
(BOISE) – As Idaho’s top advocate for schoolchildren, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra responded to Gov. Brad Little’s first State of the State address by expressing appreciation to the new governor for making education his top priority, committing funding and ideas to the shared effort of supporting Idaho schools and students to achieve.
(BOISE) – Three Treasure Valley high school students are going into the new year with extra funds for college thanks to the Jiffy Lube Teen Driver Scholarship Program.
– CenturyLink Outage Impacts State Agency Phone Systems in Boise December 27, 2018
(BOISE) – A nationwide communications outage has impacted the ability of customers to call the Idaho State Department of Education and other state agencies in the Boise area.
– Idaho State Department of Education Holiday Closures December 21, 2018
(BOISE) – The Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) is closed on the following dates.
(BOISE) – The Child Nutrition Division of the Idaho State Department of Education today published newly updated lists of Centers and Family Day Care Homes that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
(BOISE) – Four Idaho schools producing stellar results in helping at-risk students succeed have been identified for national recognition by the State Department of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
– Superintendent Ybarra names Marilyn Whitney Deputy Superintendent, Communications and Policy December 20, 2018
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra today appointed Marilyn Whitney as Deputy Superintendent, Communications and Policy.
– Idaho State Department of Education unveils new K-12 Report Card December 19, 2018
(BOISE) – After nine months of intensive work, the State Department of Education’s revamped K-12 Report Card is available online, providing a user-friendly way for parents, educators and others to access information about schools and districts throughout the state.
(BOISE) – On Saturday afternoon, Dec. 15, a record 129 Idaho teenagers will cross the stage as graduates of the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be on hand to congratulate them.
– Department Seeks Waivers for Recently Rescinded Program Policies December 12, 2018
(BOISE) – The Idaho State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs (SDE, CNP) has submitted multiple waiver requests to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for recently rescinded policy waivers as issued in SFSP 01-2019 Summer Food Service Program Memoranda Rescission, October 11, 2018.
– School Bus Stop Arm Safety Awareness Campaign Launched December 11, 2018
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra today released a public service announcement aimed at increasing awareness about school buses and the stop arm law designed to protect students.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is heading to North Idaho this week as part of a “winter tour” to hear from Idaho educators about the issues and priorities that are most important for them.
– Superintendent Ybarra Briefs U.S. Senator Jim Risch in D.C. on Key Student Safety Initiative December 5, 2018
(BOISE) – Today, Idaho State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra briefed U.S. Senator Jim Risch about Idaho’s comprehensive student safety initiative, Keep Idaho Students Safe, KISS for short.
(BOISE) – This year’s holiday cards from the Idaho State Department of Education will feature a West Ada third-grader’s watercolor rendering of a classic winter scene: transporting a holiday tree home from the forest.
– Scores released for Idaho’s new K-3 reading test November 9, 2018
(BOISE) – State, district, and school level results on the state’s new early reading tests were released today.
– Idaho students invited to envision future through art contest November 7, 2018
(BOISE) – Students in grades 7 through 12 can envision their future and share that vision through the Investing in My Future Art Contest, which runs through Dec. 1.
– Thirteen Idaho schools get USDA grant funds for kitchen equipment October 30, 2018
(BOISE) – The Idaho State Department of Education has awarded $132,068.72 in federal grant funding through its Child Nutrition Programs to help 13 schools across Idaho purchase new equipment for their National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
(BOISE) – The last of the state’s identifications -- additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI) schools -- under its new accountability system are posted on the Accountability page of the State Department of Education’s website.
(BOISE) – Frank DeAngelis, who led the Colorado high school hit by the nation’s first mass K-12 school shooting, says Idaho is on the right track for keeping our students safe.
– Presidential Scholar nominations open for Idaho seniors October 15, 2018
(BOISE) – Idaho high school seniors interested in being nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program are urged to submit applications to the State Department of Education by Nov. 2.
– Idahoans invited to help shape surveys about schools October 15, 2018
(BOISE) – Draft parent and staff surveys, developed by education stakeholders as part of a new Accountability Framework for Idaho schools, are available online for review and feedback until Oct. 26.
GEAR UP conference in Boise focuses on Advanced Opportunities October 12, 2018
(BOISE) – Nearly 600 education professionals from western states, including 175 from Idaho, will gather in Boise Sunday through Tuesday, Oct. 16-18, for the GEAR UP West conference, which this year will feature the State Department of Education’s Advanced Opportunities program.
SDE’s FACE conference brings wide range of speakers to Boise October 4, 2018
(BOISE) – A former principal of Columbine High School, a therapist who specializes in combatting bullying and an expert who uses sled-dog teamwork principals to strengthen family engagement practices are among the speakers at this year’s Family and Community Engagement Conference.
Top Idaho science, math teachers advance to nationals October 2, 2018
(BOISE) – Three Idaho elementary teachers, two in science and one in mathematics, will be honored as this year’s state nominees for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) during the Idaho Math and Science Conference, Oct. 5-6, at Eagle High School.
(BOISE) – U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today recognized two Idaho schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2018.
Idaho students invited to submit art for SDE holiday cards October 1, 2018
(BOISE) – The Idaho State Department of Education is now accepting Holiday Card Contest submissions from Idaho students in grades K-6.
SDE reorganizes programs as student-centered learning department September 25, 2018
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education has reimagined its academics department with an infusion of mastery education principles and teams organized by district size, not subject matter.
Idaho Teacher of the Year helps shape curriculum, community and students’ futures September 10, 2018
(BOISE) – Idaho’s newly announced 2019 Teacher of the Year offers a distinctive blend of credentials and characteristics that make him stand out: In addition to being a skilled and passionate high school teacher, he leads the state’s most honored FFA program and serves as mayor of American Falls.
Media advisory: Correction on proposed teacher pay increases September 5, 2018
(BOISE) – The proposed teacher pay increases beyond the fifth year of the Career Ladder in the FY 20 Public Schools Budget were updated today.
State IDs Idaho schools for recognition, support September 5, 2018
(BOISE) – The state today identified schools for recognition and for targeted support and improvement (TSI) based on the performance of 10 subgroups of students. The identifications mark the second of three phases of information released from the state’s new accountability system.
Superintendent Ybarra asks for investments in students, teachers September 4, 2018
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will ask the Legislature to invest in immediate student safety needs, increased support for teachers and continued forward momentum for the state’s plan to improve K-12 education.
Local, statewide ISAT scores finalized and available online August 31, 2018
(BOISE) – Final 2018 results for the Idaho Standards Achievement Test are now available, posted Friday on the State Department of Education website.
(BOISE) – Students, families, and special education professionals across the state are expected to benefit from a new, web-based system to create Individualized Education Programs for students with disabilities.
(BOISE) – Idaho will provide coaching, professional development and other supports over the next three years to help elevate student performance in schools identified as underperforming or with low graduation rates by the state’s new accountability system. The state also will invest $6.3 million in improvement grants for underperforming schools that are part of the federal Title I-A program.
(BOISE) – Results from the spring Idaho Reading Indicator – the last time that early reading test will ever be given -- are out, and they reinforce why educators are happy a new, online test will be rolled out statewide this fall, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said Friday.
Guest Opinion: Stakeholders are at the heart of initiative to keep Idaho students safe August 10, 2018
By Sherri Ybarra - Superintendent of Public Instruction
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is revisiting plans for a new chief policy advisor after Will Goodman, who had planned to rejoin the State Department of Education Sept. 17, told her he wants to remain with the Mountain Home School District.
(BOISE) – With a $13.4 million state investment in providing college-level courses to high school students across Idaho, the State Department of Education’s Fast Forward program saved students’ families more than four times that amount -- $55 million -- in college costs.
(BOISE) – On Aug. 1, more than 100 educators, policymakers and tribal leaders will gather in Boise to promote equity and best practices for teaching American Indian students by identifying strategies and gathering cultural knowledge.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra named former chief technology officer and veteran educator Will Goodman to the position of chief policy advisor in her administration.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra named former chief technology officer and veteran educator Will Goodman to the position of chief policy advisor in her administration.
(BOISE) – Students at 121 schools across Idaho will receive free, fresh fruit and vegetables during the coming school year thanks to state-administrated grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
(BOISE) – Students at 121 schools across Idaho will receive free, fresh fruit and vegetables during the coming school year thanks to state-administrated grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
(BOISE) – Two Idaho teachers are among 140 math and science teachers across the nation selected to win Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Lynnea Shafter teaches special K-5 STEM classes at Barbara Morgan STEM Academy in Meridian, and Susan Darden teaches 6th grade general mathematics at Galileo STEM Academy in Eagle. Darden also teaches a history class.
(BOISE) – June is a big month for collaborations between the State Department of Education and Idaho higher education to help math teachers come up with new, effective ways to teach thousands of Idaho children.
(BOISE) – An online analysis tool developed by the State Department of Education allows parents, educators and others to quickly access and compare SAT scores for Idaho schools and school districts.
(BOISE) – Preliminary statewide results from assessments taken by Idaho students this spring show encouraging increases in students’ proficiency in English and math through the ISAT and a puzzling dip in 11th graders’ performance on the SAT college entrance exam.
(BOISE) – When school starts anew at the end of summer, young students throughout Idaho will take a new evaluation designed to identify how best to help them maximize their reading readiness and skills.
(BOISE) – Students at 17 middle and high schools across Idaho will team with adult advisers to fight against teen suicide by decreasing risk factors and building positive influences, thanks to state Sources of Strength grants.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra today appointed Peter McPherson as chief deputy superintendent. He replaces Pete Koehler, who retires June 29.
(BOISE) – A student from Boise High School and one from Moscow High School have been named as Idaho’s Presidential Scholars for 2018, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said Tuesday.
(BOISE) – Any time is the right time to let teachers know you appreciate them, but that’s doubly true during National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 7 through 11, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said.
(BOISE) – Next week, 22 teachers in the Treasure Valley and Magic Valley will get time off as part of the State Department of Education’s celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week.
(BOISE) – The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, which annually selects top graduating high school seniors from each state, has selected eight semi-finalists for the state of Idaho, all selected for their outstanding achievements.
(BOISE) – For Caldwell teacher Becky Mitchell, this is “the week of weeks.” She’s in Washington, D.C., as Idaho’s Teacher of the Year, spreading the word about Idaho education, networking with other top teachers, absorbing teaching resources at Smithsonian museums, and encountering people and places she previously had only imagined.
(BOISE) – Want to teach in Idaho? Upcoming Educator Career Fairs in Nampa and Twin Falls this week and next each offer a one-stop opportunity to meet with prospective employers from more than a dozen Idaho school districts and charter schools.
(BOISE) – In September, 20 Idaho high school teachers will travel to the Harvard Business School for an all-expense-paid opportunity to help pilot a new way to teach teenagers about American democracy: the High School Case Method Project.
First week of SDE’s Legislative Roadshow winds up in Boise Thursday, will be livestreamed April 10, 2018
Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra and key staff members are hitting the road to discuss this year’s legislative session and all of the latest education news, from public school finance and technology to Idaho’s recently approved ESSA accountability system, Smarty Ants and the Red Tape Committee.
(BOISE) – Idaho’s new web-based program to help children get ready for reading and kindergarten is ready to roll, and parents are encouraged to sign up online.
(BOISE) – Idaho’s latest scores in the National Assessment for Education Progress provide encouraging news as the state works to increase student performance in reading and mathematics, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said.
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education has awarded $1.5 million in grants to 10 Idaho schools and communities to give students opportunities for academic achievement and well-being.
(BOISE) – Starting next week, all Idaho 4-year-olds will have free access to an animated, interactive reading-readiness program dubbed Smarty Ants through a five-year grant agreement between the State Department of Education and the online literacy program Achieve3000.
(BOISE) – Parents, students, educators and others are invited to weigh in on Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s proposed Keep Idaho Students Safe initiative via an online survey.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra got the news that Idaho’s consolidated plan has officially been approved via a personal phone call Thursday from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
(BOISE) – Child Nutrition Programs of the State Department of Education is now accepting applications for Idaho elementary schools to participate in the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).
(BOISE) – Parents, teachers and administrators from throughout the state are helping the Idaho Assessment Task Force complete its process of studying the state’s standardized testing system and suggesting ways to improve it.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra called for a greater investment in the safety of Idaho’s students through a new initiative, announced today, focused on increasing support to Idaho’s schools.
Statehouse event showcases mastery-based education in Idaho schools February 21, 2018
(BOISE) – Teachers, students and administrators from across Idaho will gather in the Capitol Rotunda Friday, Feb. 23, to demonstrate a new approach to education that measures student learning by mastery of content.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra unveiled a new Certification Lookup Tool Wednesday that allows Idahoans to quickly find information about the certification status of teachers, administrators and other education professionals.
Idaho’s graduation rate shows small increase, optimism for future February 7, 2018
(BOISE) – Nearly eight in 10 Idaho high school seniors graduated in 2017, a slight improvement with some bright spots and room to improve, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said Wednesday.
Treasure Valley kids get STEAM’d at Future Design Academy Feb. 5-8 February 5, 2018
(BOISE) – Students from four Valley school districts will flex their creative and artistic talents in a STEM environment during daylong Future Design Academy sessions over the next three months.
Superintendent Ybarra releases report on Idaho’s education landscape January 22, 2018
(BOISE) – More than one in five new Idaho teachers doesn’t return to their school the following year. Students with the greatest economic and academic needs tend to have teachers with the least experience. These and other results from a new study are an urgent call to action, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said.
(BOISE) – Idaho State Department of Education programs and initiatives will take center stage at the State Capitol Monday, Jan. 22, at a legislative open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first floor Rotunda.