Idaho State Department of Education

(BOISE) – The Empowering Parents Parent Advisory Panel held its final meeting this afternoon in Lewiston. The panel’s recommendations have been sent to the State Board of Education for consideration.

(BOISE) – Educational stakeholders from around the state are invited to explore the changing landscape of the science of reading and literacy with guidance from local and national subject-matter experts at “Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong,” brought to you by the State Department of Education, Bluum and ExcelinEd.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield would like to extend her congratulations to the educators, staff and students at Teton Elementary School for their school’s designation as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield has announced the addition of a corporate sponsor for the state’s annual Teacher of the Year program. CapEd Credit Union has agreed to become the first-ever title sponsor.

The Idaho Career Ready Students (ICRS) Council convened for the second time to award an additional round of grants to applicants looking to expand Career Technical Education (CTE) for students in Idaho schools.

Superintendent Debbie Critchfield has submitted her annual budget request for Idaho’s K-12 education budget. Each year, the request for the state schools’ budget is due to the Governor’s Office by September 1.

Students at 139 schools across Idaho will enjoy a wide selection of fresh fruit and vegetable options free of charge this school year with state-administered grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Educators interested in exploring ways to increase participation and communication between families, schools and communities now have the opportunity to register for the 2023 Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Conference.

(BOISE) – The start of the school year shouldn’t mean the end to fun things. The prospect of new teachers, new experiences, and a new year of learning can feel overwhelming, but also exciting.

(BOISE) – The State Department of Education is welcoming Joshua Noteboom as the new Director of Federal Programs.

(BOISE) – The Idaho Career Ready Students (ICRS) Council convened for the first time on Tuesday morning to award its first set of grants to expand Career Technical Education (CTE) in Idaho schools.

(BOISE) – Families in Idaho can now view the 2023-2024 income guidelines and apply for free and reduced-price meals for the upcoming school year.

(BOISE) – Idaho schools will have a new resource to prepare students to meet local and regional industry needs with the Idaho State Department of Education’s Idaho Career Ready Students program (ICRS).

(BOISE) – Schools in Idaho will once again receive a record lottery dividend. This year’s transfer of $82,000,000 will be the highest dividend payment in the Idaho Lottery Commission’s 34-year history.

(BOISE) – Often in our professional lives, when we take time to reflect on our work, we realize there are few things we’ve done perfectly. With the benefit of this hindsight, we realize we could have done more towards our efforts to reach our goals. Such is the case when I think back to my service as a board member for the Cassia School District nearly twenty years ago. I got better at that responsibility each year, but I can’t help but feel there were areas I could have emphasized that would have strengthened our commitment to student growth and achievement.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield is welcoming a new Director of Special Education as previous director Julie Mead transitions into her new role with the Caldwell School District.

(BOISE) – What our students learn and how it is presented is important to parents, communities and Idahoans. The materials used in classrooms - referred to as curriculum - are selected by locally elected school trustees in a process laid out in state law. These statutes require that the process is open to the community and that chosen materials align with state learning standards. As an example, standards require students to learn about the Civil War in 11th grade. A local board then selects the materials used to teach the lessons.

(BOISE) – An Idaho teacher has been recognized for her commitment to high quality instruction in environmental science and geography with two prestigious awards.

(BOISE) – Boise High School rising senior Emily Watson will join students from across the U.S. and around the world at the prestigious Joint Science and Technology Institute West.

(BOISE) – Members of the public are welcome to review initial drafts of the new Idaho Extended Content Standards alignment for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA/Literacy), Mathematics and Science, and are encouraged to comment on the standards.

(BOISE) – Governor Brad Little has proclaimed June 5 - 9 as Summer Food Service Program Awareness Week. The proclamation highlights that Idaho students will once again have access to nutritious, healthy food options throughout the summer months with the program.

(BOISE) – The Empowering Parents Parent Advisory Panel will hold its first meeting this Thursday, June 1 from 9 a.m. – noon MT. The meeting will be held at the State Board of Education office on the third floor of 650 W. State Street in Boise. Members of the public interested in viewing the meeting can tune in to the State Department of Education’s public streaming page at https://www.youtube.com/@SDEIdaho.

(BOISE) – An additional Idaho student has been selected to join peers from around the nation at this year’s prestigious National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp), to be held June 19 – July 12.

(BOISE) – Students and staff in the Wilder School District will be honored tomorrow, May 23 for the distinction of having the “#1 Student-Run Animation Studio” in the country. The event will feature a reception followed by a screening of Wilder School District student film, “The Return of Oz,” at the legendary Egyptian Theatre in Boise.

(BOISE) – Caldwell student Nicholas Mendez has been selected to work alongside NASA subject matter experts at this year’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer High School Intern Program. He will join peers from Idaho and across the county in an in-depth exploration of Earth and space research.

(BOISE) – Twin Falls student Anna Grace Aiello will join peers in Idaho and from around the country at this year’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer High School Intern Program. She will work alongside NASA subject matter experts and engage with authentic NASA research data to better understand Earth and space systems.

(BOISE) – Meridian student Andrew Gordon will work alongside NASA subject matter experts at this year’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer High School Intern Program.

(BOISE) – Two Idaho high school seniors will be honored as U.S. Presidential Scholars for 2023. They will join peers from around the country in receiving one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. Nationally, 161 students were selected for recognition.

(BOISE) – The Idaho State Board of Education’s Idaho Indian Education Committee and the State Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education are set to host this year’s Idaho Indian Education Summit, “Tribal Traditions: Designing STEM Through Place, Language and Purpose.

(BOISE) – For the last two weeks, I’ve crisscrossed Idaho with members of my team to visit school leaders all around the state. This is an annual State Department of Education practice and its timing is deliberate. This ‘post-legislative roadshow’ is held soon after the end of Idaho’s annual legislative session and is meant to share with local district leaders the changes made to education policy and how those new laws will affect their teachers, students, budgets and operations.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield issued the following statement after this morning’s fire at Highland High School in Pocatello.

(BOISE) – Educators making a daily difference for students in the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will have the opportunity to make their voices heard at one of the region’s most anticipated events for STEM instructors, the 2023 Annual STEM Conference.

(BOISE) – The State Department of Education’s Student Transportation department has partnered with international epilepsy awareness campaign, “Purple Day,” to bring schools and districts free resources and trainings on how to best support student riders with epilepsy and brain trauma.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield and the State Department of Education will hold six post-legislative sessions across the state between April 11 and 20. The events will provide local school leaders a chance to hear from the superintendent and SDE staff regarding changes made to education law during the Idaho legislature’s 2023 session.

(BOISE) – Six Idaho math and science teachers have been named as state finalists for the national Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield is excited to welcome a new Director of Assessment and Accountability, Director of Student Transportation and Director of School Choice & Student Engagement. These appointments serve to fill all remaining vacant director positions following staff changes made after the department’s January transition.

(BOISE) – Governor Brad Little this morning signed into law HB 267, which will expand grades 7-12 Career Technical Education (CTE) in Idaho public schools. The new program will be especially beneficial in rural Idaho where smaller schools have traditionally had fewer resources to fund CTE programs.

(BOISE) – Parents interested in taking on a leadership role in the Empowering Parents Grant Program have one month to apply for one of seven open positions on the Parent Advisory Council.

(BOISE) – Idaho elementary schools interested in expanding the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to students will have the chance to participate in the USDA’s 2024 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).

(BOISE) – Two Idaho students have been selected to represent the state at this year’s prestigious National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp), held from June 19 – July 12.

(BOISE) – Idaho Public Television will put Idaho’s youth vaping crisis front and center with its upcoming documentary, “Nic Sick,” set to air on March 21 at 7 p.m. MST. The documentary is aimed at dispelling many of the misconceptions about youth vaping and ultimately helping Idaho students make safe choices for their health and future.

(BOISE) – Two Idaho school districts have been recognized for their outstanding Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) with the USDA’s Turnip the Beet Award.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield has introduced legislation that will establish a Bill of Rights for parents of students enrolled in Idaho’s K-12 public schools.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield has introduced legislation that will establish a Bill of Rights for parents of students enrolled in Idaho’s K-12 public schools.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield is welcoming a new Director of Special Education, Director of Content and Curriculum and Director of the Eastern Idaho Regional Support Services. These changes come as the new administration continues to work towards fully staffing the department following January’s transition.

(BOISE) – The 29th annual Idaho Prevention and Support Conference is scheduled for May 4 - 5 in Boise. This statewide conference will feature talks by thought leaders in educational and student well-being as well as pre-conference workshops and interactive sessions.

(BOISE) – Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield will visit the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Fire Cache in Coeur d’Alene this week. The cache is central to Idaho’s annual firefighting efforts by supplying firefighters with essential equipment. However, the cache faces challenges recruiting skilled workers based on a gap in the regional workforce.

(BOISE) – The State Department of Education is now accepting applications for Idaho’s most prestigious award in teaching, Teacher of the Year.

(BOISE) – The State Department of Education is now accepting applications for Idaho’s most prestigious award in teaching, Teacher of the Year.

(BOISE) – Idaho students are invited to explore the future of the U.S. Constitution as part of the 2023 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest.

(BOISE) – The Child Nutrition Division of the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) is seeking sponsors for this year’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The SFSP provides free meals and snacks to children ages 1-18 by operating sites located in low-income areas during the summer months.

(BOISE) – Applications are now being accepted from high school juniors and seniors in the classes of 2023 and 2024 to represent Idaho at the 2023 National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp). Two students from each state, Washington D.C. and select countries will attend the all-expenses-paid program, held from June 19 – July 12.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said she’s pleased with Governor Brad Little’s continued focus on education in today’s State of the State address.

(BOISE) – 2022 in Idaho brought with it long campaigns and high-profile races in the May primaries and November election.