The Idaho State Board of Education has approved recommendations brought by Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield to amend Idaho’s requirements for students to graduate from high schools.
If approved by the Legislature, the changes will be phased in over three years and will require students to earn a credit in Digital Literacy and complete a Future Readiness Project, which is an amended version of the senior project requirement that will require students demonstrate college and career competencies through work-based, service-based, or research-based projects that explore potential options after high school.
Other amendments include a requirement for localized pathways that identifies core and elective credits, assessments, and other local opportunities that align with students’ post-graduation goals.
“Our job in education is to prepare students for the world around them and the coming changes,” Superintendent Critchfield said. “Reviewing and ensuring high school graduation requirements meet those demands is one of the most important things our board can do to help our students be successful.”
The Superintendent’s staff conducted surveys with parents and traveled the state, meeting with various stakeholders to develop and discuss proposed amendments, which will now go through negotiated rulemaking this fall before they are submitted to the Legislature early next year.
The last comprehensive update of the graduation requirements took place more than 10 years ago.
Other Board actions include:
- Approved Boise State University’s request to begin construction of its North End Zone expansion project at Albertsons Stadium. The project will add 1,550 seats and 12 new field-level suites. Board approval requires the cost of the project not to exceed $76.1 million. Boise State plans to pay for the project by using $10 million in institution reserve funds, issuing $30 million in bonds, and raising the remaining funds through philanthropy. Boise State says the North End Zone Expansion will increase annual stadium revenue by $4 million.
- Approved the University of Idaho’s request to begin the award and construction phases of its Meat Science and Innovation Center Facility, expected to cost $17.2 million. The new facility will be paid for with $5 million in State funding, $5.9 million from the U of I’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, $1.4 million will come from institution reserves and the remaining $4.9 will be paid for with donated funds.
- The Board also approved several rule dockets and three education-related legislative proposals for the 2025 legislative session. The legislative proposals include:
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- A reduction in the size of the School Safety and Security Advisory Board from 13 members to 6 members. The purpose for the proposal is to make it easier to establish a quorum in order for the Advisory Board to conduct its meetings, which has been difficult in the past.
- Amend state law to enable the State Board of Education to distribute Broadband Infrastructure Funds to schools across the state to pay for the cost of internet service. The grant funds were shifted to the Board Office from the Idaho Department of Education during the 2024 legislative session. However, an amendment to Idaho Code Section 33-5605 is required before the Board office can begin distributing the grant funds.
- Prevent Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) teams operating in schools from being held liable if the team follows best practices and engages in ongoing training.
The proposals will be forwarded to the Governor’s office before final consideration prior to the legislative session.
- The Board also approved a University of Idaho request to offer a new Doctor of Anatomical Sciences program intended to increase the number of trained anatomists to work as educators in higher education.
