Idaho to delay submitting new science standards
Wed., Aug. 10, 2016
BOISE – State officials say new K-12 science standards – which include for the first time references to global warming and the Big Bang Theory – won’t be submitted to the Idaho Legislature until 2018 after receiving a surprise rejection from lawmakers earlier this year.
Lawmakers spiked the first version of the standards in February after receiving criticism that the department violated state laws while forming them. No evidence of wrongdoing was ever proven, but the state agreed to start the process over again, and this time it’s taking a slower pace.
The department has already collected public comment by holding meetings across the state. Now a review committee will evaluate the standards over the next year.
The review committee is made up primarily of teachers and school administrators, but it also includes a member who is a creationism advocate.
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