(BOISE) – The National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils (NFGFC) announced today that three Idaho schools have been selected to receive a state-of-the-art $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center.
News Releases
(BOISE) – Idaho parents now have a dedicated space to explore resources and connect with their child’s school and the wider educational community with a new Parent Resource Toolkit launched today by Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra.
(BOISE) – Two Idaho high school seniors have been named 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced Thursday.
(BOISE) – Current and future Rexburg and Pocatello-area educators interested in exploring their passion for teaching are encouraged to join the State Department of Education at the 2022 Educator Career Fairs.
(BOISE) – Monday was a day of transition and emotion for Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra as she welcomed her 13 Student Advisory Council members for their final quarterly meeting.
– Explore your future as an educator at the State Department of Education career fair April 25, 2022
(BOISE) – Current and future Coeur d’Alene and Moscow-area educators interested in exploring their passion for teaching are encouraged to join the State Department of Education at the 2022 Educator Career Fairs.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s annual Post-Legislative Tour will be in North Idaho, with stops in Coeur d’Alene and Moscow. The superintendent and key staff will meet with each region’s district administrators to discuss what’s new in Idaho education after the 2022 legislative session.
(BOISE) – Idaho elementary schools looking to expand their fruit and vegetable offerings can apply now to participate in the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) through Child Nutrition Programs of the State Department of Education.
– Explore your future as an educator at the State Department of Education career fair April 14, 2022
(BOISE) – Current and future Twin Falls, Nampa and McCall-area educators interested in exploring their passion for teaching are encouraged to join the State Department of Education at the 2022 Educator Career Fairs.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be at Highland High School about 1:50 p.m. Thursday, April 14, to check out the school’s CTE programs and also do an interview with a student journalist.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will kick off her annual Post-Legislative Tour in Boise Monday, April 11, continuing to Twin Falls and Idaho Falls on Wednesday and Thursday. At each stop, the superintendent and key staff will meet with each region’s district administrators to discuss what’s new in Idaho education after the 2023 legislative session.
(BOISE) – Eight Idaho school districts and three community organizations will receive new grant awards ranging from $98,000 to $175,000 to provide youth academic and enrichment opportunities through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program.
(BOISE) – Effective collaborations with a wide range of lawmakers, boosted by the energy and ideas of my new Student Advisory Council, made this year’s session of the Idaho Legislature my favorite yet – and a great success for K-12 education.
(BOISE) – A bill to adopt new Idaho content standards for math, science and English Language Arts, replacing the controversial “Common Core,” is now Idaho law, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra and lawmakers gathered Thursday to celebrate that achievement and discuss the next steps for putting these standards into effect.
(BOISE) – Two bills advocated by Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra – one to adopt new Idaho content standards for math, science and English Language Arts, and another to help detect dyslexia early in Idaho children’s education -- were approved by the state Senate late Monday afternoon and now await the governor’s signature.
(BOISE) – Today in a surprise assembly, Dane Beorchia, a career and technical education teacher (CTE) at Highland High School, received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for his excellence and innovation in education. Beorchia built a health career and technical program from the ground up and led the effort for his students to become certified for dual enrollment with local universities and technical schools, while making the most difficult content available to every student, entry-level and advanced.
(BOISE) – In a surprise assembly today, Tiffany Lemos, a third-grade teacher at Chubbuck Elementary School, received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for her excellence and innovation in education. Lemos uses a whole-brain teaching style to help her students work in ways that meet their individual needs by promoting movement and physical health in the classroom.
(BOISE) – Idaho’s middle-school artists are encouraged to submit their best work to the Statewide Collaborative Wellness Artwork Project.
(BOISE) – Three Idaho elementary school math and science teachers have been named state finalists for the national Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
(BOISE) – A bill to enable state funding of optional, full-day kindergarten in all Idaho districts and charter schools was unanimously approved by the Senate Education Committee Wednesday, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra welcomed the news.
(BOISE) – Idaho kindergarten through third grade reading instructors are invited to take a science-based approach to student success in literacy at the State Department of Education’s second annual K-3 Reading Summit: Set Your Sights on the Science of Reading.
(BOISE) – A resolution to put statewide emphasis on students’ understanding of government and society got unanimous approval from the House Education Committee Wednesday morning and now advances to the full House, its final hurdle before reaching the governor’s desk.
(BOISE) – Bonuses and pay increases for Idaho’s public school teachers, staff and administrators, along with funding for all-day kindergarten, are top budget priorities for Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra that were addressed Tuesday morning when the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee set the proposed fiscal 2023 budget for Idaho K-12 schools.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra Friday celebrated the progress of a newly drafted bill designed to help detect Idaho children with dyslexia early in their education so they can learn to read on an even playing field with their peers.
(BOISE) – Proposed legislation to adopt new Idaho content standards for math, science and English Language Arts and to replace certification standards for school personnel moved forward from the House Education Committee Thursday morning, and a short time later Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra urged the State Board of Education to support the legislation to eliminate the Common Core and adopt the revised standards.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s Student Advisory Council held its third meeting Monday with an immersive look at Idaho’s state government.
– Media invited to talk with members of Student Advisory Council Monday February 25, 2022
(BOISE) – Superintendent Ybarra’s Student Advisory Council will hold its third meeting of the year Monday, Feb. 28, and the high school members of the council will be available to talk with the media at the end of the meeting.
(BOISE) – The 28th annual Idaho Prevention and Support conference, “Peace, Hope, and Healing During Challenging Times,” is set for April 11- 13, featuring a full schedule of speakers, sessions and pre-conference workshops designed to offer Idaho’s schools and educators the support and resources they need to ensure student health and well-being in a rapidly changing world.
– Guest opinion: An open letter to Idaho educators February 25, 2022
(BOISE) – As we approach our third spring amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to say thank you and congratulations.
– College entrance exam won’t be required for this year’s graduates February 18, 2022
(BOISE) – The State Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to waive Idaho’s requirement that members of the high school Class of 2022 must take a college entrance exam in order to graduate this spring or summer. And board member Sherri Ybarra, Superintendent of Public Instruction, advocates permanent removal of the requirement.
(BOISE) – The nation’s highest science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teaching honor, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST), goes to two dedicated Idaho teachers.
– Don’t Quit!® Fitness Campaign Launches in Idaho February 16, 2022
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is partnering with the Office of the Governor to get out the word about this fitness campaign for Idaho schools.
– Superintendent Ybarra’s dyslexia bill introduced in House committee February 15, 2022
(BOISE) – A bill designed to detect and help Idaho children with dyslexia so they can learn to read on an even playing field with their peers will be scheduled for a House Education Committee hearing. The measure is a top legislative priority for Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra.
– Child Nutrition Programs director retires after 26 years with SDE; successor named February 11, 2022
(BOISE) – Dr. Colleen Fillmore, who has overseen nutritious food programs for two generations of Idaho schoolchildren, will retire Tuesday, Feb. 15.
– Superintendent Ybarra introduces resolution for civics standards February 10, 2022
(BOISE) – A proposed resolution to put statewide emphasis on students’ understanding of government and society advanced to the Idaho Senate floor Wednesday afternoon by unanimous vote of the Senate Education Committee.
– SDE offers Sources of Strength grants for Idaho elementary schools February 8, 2022
(BOISE) – Twenty Idaho elementary schools will build their students’ resilience, connections and ability to learn through Sources of Strength this spring.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be the featured speaker at the luncheon of the Idaho Education Technology Association (IETA) conference Thursday, Feb. 3.
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education is accepting nominations for Idaho’s top teaching honor, Teacher of the Year.
– Superintendent Ybarra visits New Plymouth schools Monday January 28, 2022
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be in New Plymouth Monday, Jan. 31, to talk with students and sit in on classes.
– SDE seeks sponsors for summer food service to children in need January 28, 2022
(BOISE) – The Child Nutrition Division of the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) is seeking partners for this year’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals and snacks to children, ages 1-18, in low-income areas during the summer months.
– Idaho’s 2021 graduation stats show increase in five-year rate, impact of pandemic January 26, 2022
(BOISE) – Idaho’s five-year graduation rate is the highest it’s ever been, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said Tuesday.
(BOISE) – A Nampa 11th grader’s dramatic pencil sketch of outstretched hands amid the turmoil of the pandemic is the winner of this year’s Picture My Future student art contest.
– Media Advisory: Superintendent Ybarra to present 2022-23 budget request to JFAC Monday January 14, 2022
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will address priorities and needs for the 2022-23 school year when she presents her public schools budget request to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.
(BOISE) – Gov. Brad Little’s State of the State address Monday delivered exciting news to families and educators throughout Idaho.
(BOISE) – Happy New Year! As we enter our third Idaho legislative session under the COVID pandemic, it’s hard not to wish this year felt a little more “new.” But we have much to look forward to.
– State Department of Education announces holiday closures December 22, 2021
(BOISE) – Idaho State Department of Education offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 23 and 24, as well as Friday, Dec. 31. In addition to the state holidays for Christmas and New Year’s, the SDE takes a holiday for Christmas Eve in exchange for keeping its offices open on a previous holiday. To meet the needs of Idaho’s school districts and charter schools, the SDE stays open for business on Columbus Day and Veterans Day each year, then closes on the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
– SDE announces student winners of 2021 holiday art contest December 15, 2021
(BOISE) – This year’s holiday cards from the Idaho State Department of Education will feature a West Ada fifth-grader’s rendering of a mask-wearing Santa crossing the sky in a sleigh shaped like Idaho.
(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).
– Media Advisory: Superintendent Ybarra to visit Weiser High Monday December 10, 2021
(WEISER) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be at Weiser High School Monday afternoon to visit a member of her Student Advisory Council and a couple of Weiser High classes.
(BOISE) – Students in grades 7 through 12 throughout Idaho are invited to picture how their education will connect with their future and share that vision through art.
(CALDWELL) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will visit Caldwell Senior High School today/ Thursday afternoon to visit a member of her Student Advisory Council and an Upward Bound class.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s Student Advisory Council concentrated on dyslexia this week, part of an intensifying focus on the science of reading and the importance of providing all Idaho students with the tools they need to be able to read efficiently and read to learn.
– Media advisory: Superintendent Ybarra to visit Highland High Tuesday November 29, 2021
(POCATELLO) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will visit Pocatello’s Highland High School Tuesday afternoon to sit in on a government class and also visit a member of her Student Advisory Council.
(BOISE) – Six members of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s special education team volunteered as substitute teachers at West Ada schools Tuesday morning, freeing the schools’ special ed teachers for a half day of assistive technology training.
(BOISE) – Statewide results of Idaho’s early reading test, the Idaho Reading Indicator, show 51 percent of the state’s students in kindergarten through third grade are reading at grade level, up from 49.6 percent last fall, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said Monday.
(HAILEY) –Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will visit Wood River Middle School today/ Monday afternoon to surprise a member of her Student Advisory Council and to visit a U.S history class.
(BOISE) – The Idaho State Department of Education has awarded $119,303 in federal grant funding through its Child Nutrition Programs to help 16 Idaho schools purchase new equipment for their National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced today.
(MERIDIAN) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is welcoming new directors of assessment and certification, replacing two valued department heads who have moved on to new roles.
– SDE offers grants for ‘21st Century Community Learning Centers’ November 8, 2021
(MERIDIAN) – The State Department of Education will award about $650,000 in five-year grants to operate programs beyond school hours across Idaho starting in the 2022-23 school year, and the SDE will hold two free virtual workshops later this month for prospective applicants.
(MERIDIAN) – The State Department of Education is now accepting Holiday Card Contest submissions from Idaho students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
– Media advisory: Superintendent Ybarra writes U.S. attorney general, decries FBI probe of parents as ‘domestic terrorists’ October 28, 2021
(MERIDIAN) – Contacted by the FBI as part of a federal investigation into whether angry parents at school board meetings in Idaho were violating federal law, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland criticizing his decision to intervene in Idaho and other states based on a request from the National School Boards Association that described disruptive parents as “domestic terrorists.”
– Idaho gains significant ground in national rankings for student achievement, more October 27, 2021
(BOISE) – Idaho public school students’ academic success is on the rise, as is the state’s ranking nationwide, according to a new Quality Counts report released by Education Week. That’s great news, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be back in the classroom this month, filling in at local schools as part of her department’s effort to help meet a critical need for substitute teachers.
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education will be open for business on Monday, Oct. 11, although Columbus Day is a state holiday.
– Superintendent Ybarra’s FACE conference set for Oct. 25-26 October 6, 2021
(BOISE) – More than 400 educators and community partners across Idaho are expected to attend the sixth annual Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Conference Oct. 25 and 26, hearing from a wide range of speakers including the Notre Dame alumnus who inspired the movie “Rudy.”
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be in Coeur d’Alene Tuesday, Oct. 5, to visit schools and to speak at her department’s 2021 Conference on Connecting Assessment and Instruction.
– Media Advisory: Supt. Ybarra visits Twin Falls Thursday for classroom visits, conference September 28, 2021
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be in Twin Falls Thursday, Sept. 30, to visit classrooms and to speak at her department’s 2021 Conference on Connecting Assessment and Instruction.
– Media Advisory: Superintendent Ybarra visits Idaho Falls Wednesday for school visits, conference September 28, 2021
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be in Idaho Falls and Ammon Wednesday, Sept. 29, to visit schools and to speak at her department’s 2021 Conference on Connecting Assessment and Instruction.
– SDE to distribute funds to help schools, districts ease staffing shortages September 24, 2021
(BOISE) – Critical shortages of substitute teachers, bus drivers and other staff are stressing school districts and charter schools throughout Idaho, and a new program administered by the State Department of Education is now available to help, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced Thursday.
– Superintendent Ybarra announces 2022 Idaho Teacher of the Year September 23, 2021
(MERIDIAN) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra visited Crossroads Middle School this afternoon to surprise science teacher Todd Knight with a $1,000 check, balloons and the title of Idaho’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.
– Superintendent Ybarra’s Student Advisory Council gathers for first meeting September 22, 2021
(BOISE) – Thirteen students from across Idaho, grades 4 through 12, gathered in Boise this week for the inaugural meeting of Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s Student Advisory Council.
– Superintendent Ybarra: Federal approval of Idaho’s state plan releases remaining $146 million in American Rescue Plan funds for Idaho schools September 13, 2021
(BOISE) – Monday’s U.S. Department of Education approval of Idaho’s plan for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) under the American Rescue Plan means $146 million is available to help Idaho school districts and charter schools address their local needs amid the pandemic and support safe, in-person instruction, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said.
(BOISE) – Today, U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced the approval of Idaho’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) plan and distributed remaining ARP ESSER funds to them. Idaho’s plan details how the state is using and plans to use ARP ESSER funds to safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it most, particularly those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
– Superintendent Ybarra announces 13-member Student Advisory Council September 8, 2021
(BOISE) – Thirteen Idaho public school students from across the state will gather in Boise Sept. 20 for the first meeting of Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s new Student Advisory Council.
– Superintendent Ybarra submits fiscal 2023 budget request for Idaho public schools September 1, 2021
(BOISE) – Boosting Idaho students’ reading readiness, continued support for essential resources for students and improving salaries for teachers and support staff are top priorities in Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s public schools budget request for next year, Superintendent Ybarra announced Wednesday.
(BOISE) – As we enter a new school year with the pandemic still creating uncertainty, I remain optimistic because I know that our school leaders share my commitment to providing the best conditions for learning possible in their districts and charter schools.
– Idaho students’ 2021 ISAT scores released August 18, 2021
(BOISE) – The latest statewide results for the Idaho Standards Achievement Test show a small decline in students’ proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics since 2019, the last time the ISAT was administered.
– 123 Idaho schools to receive fresh fruit and vegetable grants August 17, 2021
(BOISE) – Students at 123 schools across Idaho will receive free fresh fruit and vegetables during the coming school year thanks to state-administered grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
(BOISE) – Thirty Idaho elementary schools will have the opportunity to protect their students’ wellness and ability to learn by building resilience, belonging and connections through Sources of Strength this school year.
(BOISE) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering free meals to all children in eligible schools running USDA meal programs for the 2021-22 school year. This “Seamless Summer Option” also was offered last year because of the pandemic.
– Public invited to comment on draft administrative rules, including content standards July 30, 2021
(BOISE) – Draft Idaho Content Standards for English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science are among the proposed administrative rules available for public comment on the State Department of Education website.
– Idaho students’ SAT scores are out; show small decline July 16, 2021
(BOISE) – For the first time in two years, Idaho has results from the spring SAT college entrance exam, which was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(BOISE) – Jorge Pulleiro, Idaho’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, has been named to the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s annual list of Great Immigrants, Great Americans, the philanthropic foundation announced Wednesday.
(BOISE) – Statewide results from the spring Idaho Reading Indicator show that about two-thirds of all Idaho students in kindergarten through third grade were reading at grade level, notable progress despite the pandemic disruptions in the school year, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said.
– There’s still time to apply for Student Advisory Council; find forms in Spanish, English June 18, 2021
(BOISE) – Do you know an Idaho student with good ideas who wants to help shape the public school system they’re enrolled in.
(BOISE) – It’s not too late to sign up for this year’s Idaho Indian Education Summit, either online or in person at the University of Idaho in Moscow.
(BOISE) – Extraordinarily challenging is an understatement for the events of the past year. While we all hope the pandemic is in our rearview mirror, the impacts will be felt for some time. We must turn our focus to academic recovery and how to address the social-emotional impacts of the past several months.
(BOISE) – Under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, Idaho will receive $439,942,041 for K-12 public education, and the State Department of Education seeks public comment on its working draft plan for the use of these funds as required by the U.S. Department of Education.
(BOISE) – As part of her statewide Legislative Roadshow to discuss the latest education developments with Idaho educators, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is visiting schools and talking with students along the route.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra aims to get input and ideas from a broad range of Idaho students by forming a statewide student panel to advise her and the State Department of Education.
(BOISE) – Outstanding students from Moscow and Nampa have been named U.S. Presidential Scholars for 2021, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced Thursday.
(BOISE) – As part of her statewide Legislative Roadshow to discuss the latest education developments with Idaho educators, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will visit schools and talk with students along the route.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will visit the Caldwell YMCA Tuesday afternoon for the official launch of Idaho’s Think Make Create Labs, a collaborative partnership supporting STEM education for rural and underserved communities in Idaho.
(BOISE) – The Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Office is partnering with a new online platform to provide free, small-group tutoring in mathematics for Idaho middle and high school students who want to catch up on their learning and get ready for what’s next. Superintendent Sherri Ybarra announced her partnership with Schoolhouse.world Monday morning at the kickoff for this year’s Legislative Roadshow.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra and key staff members will meet with educators from all regions of the state over the next two weeks to discuss the latest Idaho education developments, including legislative action.
(BOISE) – Six outstanding Idaho math and science teachers have been named as the 2021 state finalists for the national Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
(BOISE) – Six members of Idaho’s high school Class of 2021 have been selected as semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program.
(BOISE) – Idaho elementary schools can apply now to participate in the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) through Child Nutrition Programs of the State Department of Education.
(BOISE) – Idaho parents who advocated for Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s in-person learning bill joined the superintendent in celebrating Thursday afternoon when Gov. Brad Little signed the legislation into law.
(BOISE) – Dr. Joel Wilson will join the Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office beginning July 1. He currently serves as superintendent for the Butte County School District.
(BOISE) – The appropriations bill for the teachers’ division for public schools failed Tuesday by a tie vote in the Idaho House of Representatives, prompted by legislative concerns that state funds could be used to advance a social justice agenda.
(BOISE) – Legislation protecting Idaho children’s access to in-person education cleared the Senate by unanimous vote Tuesday evening and now heads to Gov. Brad Little’s desk.
– Superintendent Ybarra names new communications director March 25, 2021
(BOISE) – Mary McFarland, a lifelong Idahoan with diverse experience in publishing, business and local government, will be Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s new communications director and press secretary, Superintendent Ybarra announced.
(BOISE) – The Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office is administering the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) program on behalf of the Governor’s Office. The purpose of the EANS program is to provide emergency services or assistance related to COVID-19 to non-public schools.
(BOISE) – Eight Idaho school districts and five community organizations will receive grants ranging from $100,000 to $175,000 to provide youth academic and enrichment opportunities through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program.
(BOISE) – Thirteen school districts and child care organizations across Idaho will implement innovative technology for child nutrition programs thanks to more than $175,000 in federal Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) funds distributed by the State Department of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
– Superintendent Ybarra’s popular Prevention conference goes virtual; registration is open February 22, 2021
(BOISE) – The 27th annual Prevention and Support Conference will be held online this year on April 12 and 13, with a full roster of speakers, sessions and pre-conference trainings geared to help educators and others keep Idaho schools and students safe.
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education is accepting nominations for Idaho’s top teaching honor, Teacher of the Year.
(BOISE) – Initial drafts of new Idaho Content Standards for Math, Science and English language arts (ELA) are available for review, and Idaho citizens are encouraged to study these drafts, comment on the standards and provide feedback that will guide the remaining work to be done on the standards before they are finalized and presented to the State Board of Education next fall and the 2022 Legislature.
(BOISE) – Idaho students in kindergarten through fifth grade are learning to love mathematics, science and engineering thanks to skilled, dedicated teachers, and six of those Idaho teachers are in the running to receive the national Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
– SDE seeks sponsors for summer food service to children in need January 29, 2021
(BOISE) – The Child Nutrition Division of the Idaho State Department of Education is seeking partners for this year’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals and snacks to children, ages 1-18, by operating sites in low-income areas during the summer months.
(BOISE) – Idaho students’ visions of future success were announced Thursday morning as Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra outlined her public schools budget plan to the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations committee.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will address priorities and needs for the 2021-22 school year when she presents her public schools budget request to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.
– Idaho’s 2020 graduation rates show improvement January 15, 2021
(BOISE) – Idaho’s four-year and five-year graduation rates increased in 2020, encouraging news amid a pandemic that disrupted the end of the graduates’ senior year.
(BOISE) – Monday’s State of the State address by Gov. Brad Little offered welcome news to educators and families throughout Idaho.
– SDE seeks feedback on proposed changes to accountability plan January 8, 2021
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education is requesting public feedback on a proposed addendum to temporarily modify several components of Idaho’s previously approved Consolidated State Plan for accountability.
(BOISE) – Happy New Year! Like educators and families throughout Idaho, I’m looking forward to this new year with the hope that we will be able to get back to school under more normal conditions.
– Idaho State Department of Education announces holiday closures December 23, 2020
(BOISE) – State Department of Education offices will be closed on the following dates:
(BOISE) – The Child Nutrition Programs of the Idaho State Department of Education published today newly updated lists of Centers and Family Day Care Homes that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
– Superintendent Ybarra announces new SDE transportation director December 18, 2020
(BOISE) – Kyle Rahn, a law enforcement officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Boise, will join the State Department of Education Dec. 30 as Director of Student Transportation, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced Friday.
– SDE releases final results for fall 2020 Idaho Reading Indicator December 10, 2020
(BOISE) – Final Fall 2020 statewide results of Idaho’s early reading test, the Idaho Reading Indicator, show little variation from preliminary results released in November. The final results include a breakdown by district and school, as well as performance by student demographic groups.
(BOISE) – Students in grades 7 through 12 throughout Idaho are invited to picture how their education will connect with their future and share that vision through artwork.
– SDE announces student winners of 2020 holiday art contest November 24, 2020
(BOISE) – This year’s holiday cards from the Idaho State Department of Education will feature a Boise sixth-grader’s drawing of a mask-wearing Santa wishing Idaho a safe Christmas.
– Joint Statement from Idaho Educators November 20, 2020
(BOISE) – The pandemic has impacted almost every aspect of how we live, work, recreate and celebrate. From mundane tasks to once-in-a-lifetime events to medical emergencies, our engagement has been drastically changed.
– SDE offers grants for ‘community learning center’ programs November 20, 2020
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education will award about $1.5 million in five-year grants to operate out-of-school programs across Idaho starting in the 2021-22 school year, and the SDE will hold two free virtual workshops in December for prospective applicants.
– SDE awards grant funds to help Idaho schools upgrade kitchen equipment November 12, 2020
(BOISE) – The Idaho State Department of Education has awarded $124,312 in federal grant funding through its Child Nutrition Programs to help 10 Idaho schools purchase new equipment for their National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced today.
– SDE releases preliminary results for fall Idaho Reading Indicator October 27, 2020
(BOISE) – Preliminary statewide results for Idaho’s early reading test show 49.6 percent of the state’s students in kindergarten through third grade are reading at grade level, with another 26 percent reading near grade level.
– SDE’s updated online report card goes live October 26 October 26, 2020
(BOISE) – Idaho’s online report card for public schools and districts now includes new user-friendly features and updated information.
– Guest Opinion: Back to school isn’t back to normal, but keep focus on what’s best for kids October 21, 2020
(BOISE) – This school year is unlike any other, with a long-running pandemic heaping stress on families, teachers, administrators and support staff. All involved are working hard to innovate and keep everyone safe while minimizing learning loss.
– Content standards, advanced opportunities. CARES funds among topics at SBOE meeting October 21, 2020
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra and her staff will report on several programs and areas of keen public interest during the State Department of Education portion of today’s State Board of Education meeting.
– Idaho’s K-6 students invited to submit art for SDE holiday cards October 16, 2020
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education is now accepting Holiday Card Contest submissions from Idaho students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
– Superintendent Ybarra revises 2022 budget request October 9, 2020
(BOISE) – In response to stronger than expected state revenues in August and September, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra has submitted a revised budget for the 2021-22 budget year, seeking an additional $20 million for next fiscal year which brings her total budget request to $2.02 billion in state general funds.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra visited Wood River Middle School this morning to surprise Spanish teacher Jorge Pulleiro with the news that he is Idaho’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.
– Two Idaho Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon School Honors September 24, 2020
(BOISE) – U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today recognized two Idaho schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
(BOISE) – In response to the pandemic, the State Department of Education has submitted a waiver request to allow Idaho’s Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers to provide supplemental services during school hours when students are not physically present in school but are participating in remote or independent learning caused by COVID-19.
– Free ‘Gatekeeper’ training helps Idahoans respond to youth suicide warning signs September 16, 2020
(BOISE) – September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the State Department of Education (SDE) is marking the occasion by encouraging Idahoans to sign up for free online training designed to prevent youth suicide.
– Longtime SDE schools finance chief to retire; successor named September 15, 2020
(BOISE) – Tim Hill, who has headed public school finance for the State Department of Education under four superintendents of public instruction, will retire Friday, Sept. 18 -- 23 years and 10 days after he first joined the department.
– 118 Idaho schools to receive fresh fruit, vegetables through grants September 10, 2020
(BOISE) – Students at 118 schools across Idaho will receive free, fresh fruit and vegetables during this school year thanks to a state-administrated grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.
(BOISE) – Improving pay for Idaho’s veteran teachers and restoring educators’ ability to move up on the career ladder is the top priority in the 2021-22 public schools budget request submitted by Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra.
– Supt. Ybarra releases back-to-school graphic, PSA for parents August 17, 2020
(BOISE) – As families throughout Idaho start a new school year, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra has a simple message amid this complicated time: Let’s get back to school, safely. Whether local schools are starting in-person, online or a combination of the two, all families can help stop the spread of Coronavirus by taking a few easy precautions: Wash your hands, wear a mask, maintain social distancing and stay home if you don’t feel well.
(BOISE) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set new income guidelines for the free and reduced price meals provided to students in schools operating the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and for free milk in schools operating the Special Milk Program.
(BOISE) – A mathematics teacher from Boise’s Timberline High School has been honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education’s Advanced Opportunities Program, which helps students get a jump start toward college and career, offers a worthy example for “state policymakers seeking ways to improve the quality of high school instruction and expand postsecondary access and attainment,” according to recent report from the Manhattan Institute.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced Wednesday that Kevin Whitman, currently state coordinator for accountability, will become director of Assessment and Accountability.
– Supt. Ybarra: Funding and supporting districts’ back to school efforts is top priority July 15, 2020
(BOISE) – School districts throughout Idaho will have the opportunity to receive two streams of federal funding, distributed by the State Department of Education, designed to help them navigate the pandemic and begin the next school year with the tools and resources necessary to deliver blended learning.
(BOISE) – This week the State Department of Education distributed thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer and thousands of masks to school districts in Idaho to help protect vulnerable populations when school resumes.
- Lance Hansen, assistant superintendent of the Lewiston School District, pumps hand sanitizer into containers Monday for schools in Region 2
- SDE Transportation specialist Brent Mahannah pumps hand sanitizer into containers for Region 3 schools in New Meadows
- Representatives of Region 3 schools line up for hand sanitizer in Meridian
– Media Advisory: Initial meeting for science standards review panel set for Tuesday morning June 29, 2020
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education’s newly formed science standards review committee will hold its kickoff meeting via teleconference Tuesday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education’s review process for Idaho Content Standards for Math, Science and English Language Arts will kick off Monday and Tuesday, June 29-30. Reporters and interested members of the public are welcome to listen in as newly formed review committees hold their initial meetings.
(BOISE) – Students at 21 middle and high schools across Idaho will fight against teen suicide by decreasing risk factors and building positive influences, thanks to state Sources of Strength grants for the upcoming school year. Also, for the first time, the Sources program will be extended to younger Idaho children through an elementary curriculum.
– Guest Opinion: Resources abound for Idaho parents to help students ‘learn forward’ this summer June 17, 2020
(BOISE) – Summer learning has never been more essential. Educators often talk about the “summer slide,” when student skills and learning abilities drop off from disuse. As a former third grade teacher, I know how important it is that children continue reading, inquiring and exploring during the months between academic years.
– SDE adds finance information to online report card June 11, 2020
(BOISE) – Idaho’s statewide report card for schools and districts now includes school level financial information, specifically per-pupil expenditures.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is launching an important survey to collect input from Idaho parents focusing on the availability and use of technology to support instruction.
(BOISE) – – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra today appointed Karlynn Laraway as her director of communications. In her new position, Laraway will oversee all external communications for the State Department of Education including media relations, online content and information requests.
(BOISE) – High school seniors from Hailey, Moscow and Boise have been named U.S. Presidential Scholars for 2020, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced Thursday.
(BOISE) – Teacher Appreciation Week is something we celebrate every year in Idaho, and for very good reason. But this year, May 4-8 has particular resonance because Idaho teachers are stretching their imagination and energy to meet students’ needs during a state and national crisis that has closed our schools and impacted education in ways we never expected.
(BOISE) – Reducing youth suicide rates and addressing students’ emotional and mental health needs are among the most important issues in Idaho education, and the need doesn’t end when students graduate from high school.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is one of three state education chiefs selected for a national webinar to discuss issues public schools are grappling with under the COVID-19 pandemic.
(BOISE) – Idahoans now have until Monday, May 11, to nominate an outstanding educator for the state’s top teaching honor, Teacher of the Year.
(BOISE) – Up to 10,000 Idahoans can receive free online training to identify and respond to the warning signs of students in crisis through QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention funded by the State Department of Education.
(BOISE) – Six high-achieving Idaho high school seniors have been selected as semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program.
(BOISE) – Eight Idaho school districts and five community organizations will receive grants ranging from $75,000 to $170,000 to provide youth academic and enrichment opportunities through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program.
(BOISE) – Four educators from across Idaho will begin three-year terms on the Professional Standards Commission July 1. Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra recommended them to the State Board of Education during Thursday’s board meeting, and all four were unanimously confirmed by the board.
(BOISE) – Thousands of Idaho students don’t have a computer at home or a way to connect to the internet so they can learn remotely during this coronavirus pandemic. But nearly every family in Idaho has a television set and can watch Idaho Public Television. That is where IdahoPTV’s “Classroom Idaho: Learn @ Home” programming can connect these students with certified Idaho teachers so that they can finish learning for the balance of this school year.
(BOISE) – Idaho elementary schools can apply now to participate in the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) through Child Nutrition Programs of the State Department of Education.
(BOISE) – Although public school buildings are closed, Idaho educators continue instructing students through distance learning, and parents are helping children learn at home. To support these efforts, the State Department of Education is providing a wide range of resources to maximize the continuity of education.
(BOISE) – As Idaho education officials grapple with what the end of this school year will look like amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the State Board of Education unanimously agreed Monday to extend the soft closure but give flexibility to Idaho’s school districts and charter schools as they determine new ways to meet requirements and gauge students’ readiness in high school civics and early reading.
(BOISE) – For Idaho educators, as for all Idahoans, this rapidly developing COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of quick study and rapid response, with unprecedented challenges from all directions.
(BOISE) – Thirteen school districts and child care organizations across Idaho will implement innovative technology solutions for child nutrition programs thanks to a grant from the US Department of Agriculture.
– SDE seeks nominations for 2021 Idaho Teacher of the Year March 11, 2020
(BOISE) – The State Department of Education is accepting 2021 nominations for Idaho’s top teaching honor, Teacher of the Year.
(BOISE) – The Idaho Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) took up Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s proposed fiscal 2021 budgets for K-12 public schools and departmental operations Tuesday. JFAC’s actions, approving several of the superintendent’s key priorities, now go to the full House and Senate for approval.
(BOISE) – Schools can play an important role in efforts taken by health officials to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19, Coronavirus. And the State Department of Education is circulating helpful links and information to all school districts and charter schools in Idaho.
(BOISE) – A new federal grant, awarded in January to the State Department of Education, will greatly expand Idaho’s Sources of Strength program to include trained behavioral health case managers and peer-to-peer groups for survivors of suicide attempts.
– Media advisory: Superintendent Ybarra to speak at IETA conference February 3, 2020
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be the featured speaker at the luncheon of the Idaho Education Technology Association (IETA) conference Tuesday, Feb. 4.
– SDE seeks summer food service program sponsors January 31, 2020
(BOISE) – The Child Nutrition Division of the Idaho State Department of Education is seeking partners for this year’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals and snacks to children, ages 1-18, in low-income areas during the summer months.
– Guest opinion: Don’t rely on luck to address teens’ challenges. Invest in social-emotional learning January 23, 2020
(BOISE) – Our lives are defined by moments, especially the ones we never see coming. My compelling moment – the moment that gave me my mission as an educator -- was on an October afternoon in 2014. I remember putting on my backpack as I watched my athletes load the bus after cross country practice. My phone kept ringing and ringing, and I struggled to find it in my backpack. I had missed three phone calls from my 18-year-old son Keegan, who was a freshman at BSU.
– SDE announces student winners of ‘future’ art contest January 23, 2020
(BOISE) – Young Idaho artists with big dreams for their futures got a moment in the spotlight Thursday when Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra Thursday presented her 2021 budget request to the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations committee.
(BOISE) – Improving Idaho students’ ability to learn and succeed is at the heart of each priority listed in Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s proposed public schools budget for 2021.
– Idaho’s innovative mastery network expands, looks to the future January 20, 2020
(BOISE) – Idaho’s shift to a mastery-based learning model is going strong, with new schools and school districts joining the Idaho Mastery Education Network. After the 2019 Legislature approved a bill to lift the cap on participation in the mastery-based network, the number of participants more than doubled. Today, more than a quarter of Idaho’s school districts and 12 percent of the state’s charter schools are working on new, innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
– Idaho’s 4-year graduation rate steady; 5-year rate increases January 17, 2020
(BOISE) – Idaho’s four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2019 remained steady, coming in at 80.7 percent, compared to 80.6 percent in 2018. The percentage of students who graduated in five years increased from 82.0 percent to 82.8 percent, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said Friday.
(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra is, once again, pleased that Gov. Brad Little has made education a top priority. In his annual State of the State address Monday, the governor laid out his agenda for education, which aligns with Superintendent Ybarra’s continued commitment to supporting Idaho schools and students to achieve.