Idaho State Department of Education

(BOISE) – For Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra, the new year will take a turn both new and wonderfully familiar.

(BOISE) – Two outstanding high school seniors will represent Idaho at the 61st annual United States Senate Youth Program in Washington D.C. They will also receive $10,000 scholarships to the college or university of their choice.

(BOISE) – Caldwell’s Thomas Jefferson Charter School has achieved standout status as Idaho’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished School for 2022.

(BOISE) – In addition to updated achievement data and other information, Idaho’s online report card for public schools and districts has added new user-friendly features to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of their local schools.

(BOISE) – Santa and his famous red-nosed reindeer take a trip across a colorful night sky on this year’s holiday card contest winner from the Idaho State Department of Education.

(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) – Members of the public interested in learning more about Idaho Content Standards for social studies, arts and humanities will have the opportunity to listen to the review committees’ meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 13 and 14.

(BOISE) – The latest results from Idaho’s early reading test, the Idaho Reading Indicator, show overall proficiency exceeding pre-pandemic levels, with especially strong improvement in kindergarten and first grade.

(AMMON) – White Pine Charter School burst into thunderous applause today when first grade teacher Anna Attebury was surprised with the Milken Educator Award. The national honor is bestowed upon a select group of K-12 educators across the country for excellence in education. Presented by the Milken Family Foundation, the Award includes a $25,000 cash prize that Attebury can use however she chooses.

(BOISE) – Idaho State Department of Education offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25 for the Thanksgiving weekend.

(BOISE) – This holiday season, I am tremendously thankful for the opportunity of serving Idaho schools and families as Superintendent of Public Instruction for the past eight years. I especially want to thank my staff and educators in schools across the state for their amazing energy, innovation and commitment to our cause of helping Idaho students achieve and succeed.

(BOISE) – Members of the media interested in attending the 2022 Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Conference will also have the opportunity to set up interviews with individual speakers.

(BOISE) – Teaching and administrative staff from around the region interested in attending one of Idaho’s most anticipated annual training events can still claim a spot at the 2022 Idaho Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Conference, set for November 14 – 16.

(BOISE) – The latest scores in the National Assessment for Education Progress (NAEP) provide some encouraging news for Idaho as schools continue working to boost student achievement in mathematics and reading.

(BOISE) – The latest statewide results for the Idaho Standards Achievement Test show students’ scores in English language arts are back at pre-pandemic levels, while results in mathematics are markedly better than last year’s and come close to 2019 scores.

(BOISE) – The latest State Department of Education survey results show that the satisfaction levels of Idaho parents has increased since 2021, as has the level of engagement for students in grades 3 through 8.

(BOISE) – The State Department of Education will be open for business on Monday, Oct. 10, although Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a state holiday.

(BOISE) – Idaho has been recognized for excellent public education outcomes in a new national education report from The Heritage Foundation that ranks the state at No. 3 in the nation overall, citing low spending numbers and strong academic achievement.

(BOISE) – A winning entry from each grade level will be selected for publication on the State Department of Education website. From these entries, one overall winner will be selected for use on the department’s official holiday card. The winning artist will also receive cards for their own personal use.

(POST FALLS) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra visited Treaty Rock Elementary this morning to surprise third-grade teacher Karen Lauritzen with a $1,000 check, balloons and the prestigious title of Idaho’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

(BOISE) – Thirteen Idaho public school students from all regions of the state will gather in Boise Oct. 3 for the first meeting of Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s second Student Advisory Council.

(BOISE) – Idaho educators will once again have the opportunity to attend one of Idaho’s most anticipated annual educator training events with the Idaho Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Conference, set for November 14 – 16.

(BOISE) – Committees of subject-area experts from across Idaho will hold virtual meetings Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 27-28, continuing the process of reviewing and revising the Idaho Content Standards for social studies and arts and humanities. Interested members of the public are welcome to listen in.

(BOISE) – Idaho seniors with outstanding academic achievement set to graduate between January and August of 2023 are encouraged to apply for the 2022 – 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

(BOISE) – The State Department of Education, in partnership with NASA Aerospace Scholars, is offering Idaho 11th graders the chance to explore a future in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and aerospace careers.

(BOISE) – Restoring remaining pandemic-triggered holdbacks and continuing to improve salaries for teachers and support staff are top priorities in Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s public schools budget request for next year, the superintendent said Tuesday.

(BOISE) – I am happy to support the legislative proposal being considered in the 2022 special session of the Idaho Legislature, which convenes tomorrow, Sept. 1.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra welcomes Tuesday’s announcement that the Idaho Legislature will convene in special session to discuss the state’s record surplus.

(BOISE) – Idaho students at 118 elementary schools across the state will get the chance to explore fresh fruit and vegetable options free of charge this school year, thanks to state-administered grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced.

(BOISE) – Educators looking for new ways to best serve American Indian students in the classroom can explore implementing equitable strategies with the guidance of tribal leaders and Indian Education experts at the 2022 Idaho Indian Education Summit.

(BOISE) – Committees of subject-area experts from across Idaho will hold virtual meetings Tuesday, Aug. 9, beginning the process of reviewing and revising the Idaho Content Standards for social studies and arts and humanities. Interested members of the public are welcome to listen in.

(BOISE) – Families interested in applying for free and reduced price meals can now view income guidelines and apply for the 2022-2023 school year.

(BOISE) – The percentage of Idaho students who met SAT benchmarks this spring held steady from last year’s scores in math and in writing, while the share of students who met both benchmarks dipped slightly.

(BOISE) – Statewide results from the spring Idaho Reading Indicator show that more than two-thirds of all Idaho students in kindergarten through third grade were reading at grade level by the end of the school year, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said.

(BOISE) – This summer, families who need assistance paying for school meals will be required to submit an application for free and reduced price school meals for the first time since 2020.

(BOISE) – A committee of subject-area experts from across Idaho will hold three virtual meetings June 30 through July 5 to review Idaho’s health and physical education content standards, and interested members of the public are welcome to listen in.

(BOISE) – Idaho families in search of nutritious options this summer will be able to access free meals and snacks for children ages 1 to 18 in locations throughout the state with the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

(BOISE) – Do you know Idaho students, grades 4 through 12, who would love to have a direct role in improving the school system they’re enrolled in and, at the same time, gain civic understanding and skills in leadership, team-building and networking.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(BOISE) – As we approach our third spring amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to say thank you and congratulations.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(BOISE) – Dr. Colleen Fillmore, who has overseen nutritious food programs for two generations of Idaho schoolchildren, will retire Tuesday, Feb. 15.

(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.

(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.

(BOISE) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will be in New Plymouth Monday, Jan. 31, to talk with students and sit in on classes.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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).

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.”

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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).

(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.

(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.

(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.