The Idaho Standards for Learning Challenge had two primary goals:
- To increase awareness and understanding of the Idaho Content Standards for Learning in English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics
- To solicit actionable feedback on the standards as part of the Idaho State Department of Education’s regular review process of academic standards that have been implemented
House Bill 314 passed by the Idaho Legislature in the 2015 session mandating this review states that “The state department of education shall begin to review the Idaho's standards for learning of math and English language arts (ELA) in 2015. Idaho's content standards of learning are intended to reinforce our commitment to maintaining a college and career ready standard.”
All stakeholders in Idaho were given the opportunity to voice their approval, or disapproval, of all standards and provide actionable comments from August 12, 2015 to December 15, 2015 via an online platform. Many avenues were utilized to elicit the maximum number of reviews statewide including radio and TV ads reaching across Idaho. Once the challenge ended, all comments provided about specific standards were evaluated by a team of Idaho educators and stakeholders. This team was composed of stakeholders including K-12 teachers, administrators, higher education institutions, the PTA, parents, and business and industry. The committee was selected from applications that were available statewide on the Idaho Challenge home page by a team of stakeholders and SDE personnel. The criteria for selection of members was based on expertise, grade span experience, and regional and stakeholder representation.
The team reviewed all actionable comments in face to face meetings on December 16 and 17, 2015. Subsequently, the committee recommended 21 revisions or additions to the English Language Arts/Literacy standards and two revisions to the Mathematics standards. These proposed changes can be found below. These revisions will now be taken to the Idaho State Board of Education for approval before moving to the Idaho Legislature for final approval. The revisions were approved by the 2017 legislature.
| Total Number of Math standards | 475 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Number of English language arts/Literacy standards | 971 | |
| Overall comments on standards for ELA/Literacy and Math received | 7494 | |
| Number and percentage agreeing | 6387 | 85%* |
| Number and percentage disagreeing | 1107 | 15% |
| Number of comments on ELA/Literacy | 5152 | |
| Number and % of comments agreeing | 4277 | 83% |
| Number and % of comments disagreeing | 875 | 17% |
| Number of comments on Mathematics | 2342 | |
| Number and % of comments agreeing | 2110 | 90% |
| Number and % of comments disagreeing | 232 | 10% |
| Number of written comments ELA/Literacy | 171 | |
| Number of written comments Mathematics | 110 | |
| Number of committee recommended changes in ELA/Literacy | 21 | |
| Number of committee recommended changes in mathematics | 2 |
*One individual disagreed with 748 standards across each content area, agreeing with zero and providing zero written comments. Removing this one user’s data from the calculation would result in an overall approval rating across both content areas of 94%.
Standards Feedback
Committee Action Items for English Language Arts/Literature Standards
- Comments By Grade
- Standards (Amendment Recommendations)
- Recommended Changes
- Review Committee Members
Committee Action Items for Mathematic Standards
- Comments By Grade
- Standards (Amendment Recommendations)
- Recommended Changes
- Review Committee Members
Public Service Announcements
Get Informed
What are learning standards?
Learning standards describe what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. In Idaho, as in most states, standards are adopted statewide.
What is Curriculum?
Curriculum is how the standards are taught. This includes any resources, texts, and specific instructional units or strategies used in the classroom. In Idaho, curriculum is adopted at the district level, and selecting it is the right and responsibility of each public school district or charter school.
What is the normal cycle of standards review?
The Idaho State Department as a standard operating procedure reviews all learning standards on a rotating 6 year cycle.
If you are not familiar with the standards, please visit, Idaho Content Standards where we have provided the documents for both subjects.