Education Panel Approves Standards

Tough math standards and a lack of standards for arts and humanities were concerns as the Senate Education Committee voted Tuesday to approve the high school graduation standards proposed by the state Board of Education.

The Senate committee’s vote was the last hurdle to approval of the standards, which will now take effect.

The committee expressed concerns about how the standards will be used in Idaho’s schools, but that didn’t stop them form approving them.

“My thought is we’re launching a ship and we’re just going to have to see how it floats,” said Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow.

Committee members decided that while they support the standards, they will voice their concerns in a letter to the state Board of Education. The committee also is making a recommendation that the Legislature fully fund development of tests to measure whether kids are meeting the standards.