As the House Education Committee this morning takes up school science standards, Rep. Gayann DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, asked state Superintendent of Schools Sherri Ybarra if the proposed new standards are based on “next generation” science standards, and how many other states have followed that model.

“This has been a transparent process. This is not a conspiracy theory,” Ybarra responded. “We have brought this to you for two years. Seventeen states have used the basis similar to this.” Idaho’s standards have significant differences from that model, she noted. “Everybody’s doing their own thing, and Idaho likes to do that,” Ybarra said.