AP: Science standards on hold until 2018

Kevin Richert | 08/11/2016

The contentious job of rewriting Idaho’s science standards will take longer than expected.

The new standards won’t be ready for the 2017 legislative session, and 2018 is the new target date, Kimberlee Kruesi of the Associated Press reported this week.

Science standards hearing (1) — In April, state officials had held hearings across Idaho to take public comments on the controversial science standards.

“It’s just a decision from the executive team here to ensure that we are reviewing them thoroughly,” State Department of Education spokesman Jeff Church told the AP. “We just want to make sure they’re fully vetted.”

Legislators derailed the science standards earlier this year. Some lawmakers grumbled about the process, saying Idahoans were shut out of the discussion. But one undercurrent in the debate centered on the academic standards — and references to climate change, evolution and the age of the earth.

In April, the State Department of Education had held hearings across the state to take public comment on the standards.

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]