News Releases


– Media welcome at Post-Legislative Tour stops in Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls April 8, 2022

(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.

– SDE awards $1.88 million for learning programs beyond school hours April 6, 2022

(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.

– Supt. Ybarra, lawmakers celebrate new content standards, look at next steps March 21, 2022

(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.

– Supt. Ybarra celebrates approval of new content standards, dyslexia bill March 21, 2022

(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.

– Two Idaho teachers among 60 in U.S. surprised with Milken Educator Awards March 18, 2022

(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.

– Superintendent Ybarra endorses literacy, optional full-day K bill March 9, 2022

(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.

– Superintendent Ybarra’s civics standards resolution moves forward March 9, 2022

(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.

– Superintendent Ybarra applauds JFAC action on budget for public schools March 7, 2022

(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.

– Superintendent Ybarra votes to replace ‘Common Core’ standards March 3, 2022

(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.

– Superintendent Ybarra’s Prevention and Support conference comes to Boise February 25, 2022

(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.

– 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.

– 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.

– 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.

– 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 awards grant funds to help 16 Idaho schools upgrade kitchen equipment November 11, 2021

(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.

– 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.

– 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.”

– 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.”

– 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: 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.

– U.S. Department of Education Approves Idaho’s Plan for Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Support K-12 Schools and Students, Distributes Remaining $146 Million to State September 13, 2021

(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 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.

– 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.

– Guest Opinion: Supporting schools and students – more important than ever May 24, 2021

(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.

– Superintendent Ybarra to attend Think Make Create launch Tuesday May 10, 2021

(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.

– Superintendent: Idaho students can get free online tutoring via new partnership May 10, 2021

(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.

– Non-public schools can apply for federal emergency assistance March 22, 2021

(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.

– SDE awards federal technology funds for child nutrition across Idaho March 2, 2021

(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.

– SDE welcomes public comment on initial draft of proposed new Content Standards February 11, 2021

(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.

– Six Idaho educators nominated for nation’s highest STEM teaching honor February 5, 2021

(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.

– 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.

– 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.

– SDE seeks public comment on ‘21st Century’ programs, alternate science test September 18, 2020

(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.

– 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.

– National report praises Idaho’s Advanced Opportunities program July 23, 2020

(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.

– SDE distributes hand sanitizer, masks for schools across Idaho June 30, 2020

(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.

– Media Advisory: Idaho Content Standards review committees start work next week June 26, 2020

(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.

– SDE announces grants for suicide prevention programs across Idaho June 24, 2020

(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: Teacher Appreciation Week has special importance in these trying times May 4, 2020

(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.

– Four new members join Idaho’s Professional Standards Commission April 16, 2020

(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.

– SDE partners with IdahoPTV, Idaho Business for Education in ‘Classroom Idaho’ April 14, 2020

(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.

– SDE offers wide array of resources to educators, parents amid pandemic April 10, 2020

(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.

– State Board of Education extends soft closure, grants flexibility to local schools April 6, 2020

(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.

– Superintendent Ybarra statement on JFAC action on K-12, operations budgets March 3, 2020

(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.

– SDE shares coronavirus resources with school districts, public March 2, 2020

(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.

– 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.

– 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.

– Superintendent Ybarra supports Gov. Little's FY 2021 education agenda January 6, 2020

(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.