Members of the public interested in improving Idaho’s education outcomes by removing federal reporting and spending requirements are encouraged to review and comment on the Idaho Department of Education’s draft recommendations.
All public feedback will be used to guide the department in finalizing recommendations to the State Board of Education that strengthen local education agencies’ administrative autonomy, update the ESSA-required assessment framework and align it with state student growth and achievement goals.
Draft recommendations include:
- revision of key elements for federal (both Title and IDEA) programming administration to reduce local burdens and highlight federal program flexibilities and spending options;
- modification of Idaho’s ESSA-required comprehensive assessment framework through a waiver for 3rd grade ISAT ELA and 11th grade ELA and math ISAT
- this requested change will ensure state-required assessments are aligned with the goals of increasing early literacy and middle-grades mathematics achievement along with supporting graduation pathways and post-secondary outcomes; and
- application for “Ed-Flex” state status to gain authority to waive provisions of a variety of federal programs to assist local education agencies in designing and implementing those programs to best meet the needs of their students and communities.
Members of the public interested in adding their comments can review draft recommendations and access the comment form on the Idaho Department of Education website here.
The comment period will remain open through the end of the year.
