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Weekly Newsletter


December 14, 2023

Welcome to the Idaho Department of Education Weekly Newsletter
For Administrators | For Teachers | For Parents | Important Dates
For Administrators 

Prepare Students for a Season of Winter Driving with the Idaho Transportation Department's SNOW Program
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is offering an employee-led outreach program targeted at young drivers this winter driving season. The program sends ITD foremen and other crews to classrooms, driver education classes and more to teach future and current drivers about winter driving safety. The program features various presentations, information and resources. Presentations can be tailored to both younger students and students of driving age. Students will get the chance to get up close to a real snow plow and other road-clearing equipment while learning the ins and outs of what makes winter driving different from normal road driving and how to stay safe. The program flyer is available at the button below. It features information on how to get involved as well as presentation samples, Idaho snowfall maps and a variety of safety infographics. For questions or to set up a presentation for your school, contact ITD's Ellen Mattila. 
Download the SNOW Program Flyer
Reminder to Districts and Charters: Add New Schools by January 5

In order to receive an NCES number for any new school opening in the 2024-2025 school year, a New Building Request form will need to be summited to Carol Piranfar by January 5. A copy of the New Building Request form can be found on the School Finance website under General Files, then School Building Forms. Please ensure that the document is either signed by your superintendent/charter administrator, or is sent to clpiranfar@sde.Idaho.gov via their email account. This only applies to new schools.  Existing schools that are adding a new building to their site or structure to an existing campus do not need to submit a form. If you are uncertain if a form has already been submitted or is required, please contact Carol Piranfar. 

Access Required Forms on the Public School Finance Page
Request for Public Comment: 2024-2025 ESSA Consolidated Plan
 
The Idaho Department of Education is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to Idaho's Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), reauthorized as Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Consolidated State Plan for 2024-2025. The complete ESSA State Plan proposed changes are summarized at the link below. Proposed changes include technical or grammatical edits as well as updated practices in fulfilling the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Acts (ESSA). The public comment period on the proposed changes to Idaho's Consolidated Plan will end on January 15. Interested parties can submit comments by completing the feedback form here. Questions can be directed to Josh Noteboom at jnoteboom@sde.idaho.gov.

Access a Summary of Changes & Amendments
For Teachers

Bring Hands-On STEM to the Classroom with Idaho Science Olympiad
Idaho Science Olympiad puts science in the context of team-oriented competition, offering students the opportunity to prepare for one or more of 23 possible events in small groups under the guidance of a teacher or parent volunteer. Each fall, Science Olympiad releases new guidance for teams to tackle the 23 STEM-aligned events. Instructors or parents can learn more about starting a team in either the Division B (grades 6-9) or Division C (grades 9-12). While a school can have multiple teams, each team is limited to fifteen students and Division B teams are limited to five ninth graders while Division C teams are limited to seven twelfth graders. More information on how to get started with the Idaho Science Olympiad program is available at the button below. 
Learn More About Idaho Science Olympiad

Feedback Sought in Advance of RFP for the Idaho Reading Indicator
The Idaho Department of Education is seeking input from educational stakeholders in preparation for a Request for Proposal (RFP) to overhaul the state’s early literacy assessment, the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI).  

Stakeholders are invited to fill out a short, 10-minute survey to help guide this process. The survey will close on December 22. 

Your feedback will inform the department on what changes or additions may be needed on future IRI assessments. Feedback is anonymous, and although several questions are geared towards educators and administrators, any member of the public is welcome to take the survey. Not all survey questions are required to make your submission. Learn more and access the survey at the button below. 
Take the IRI Feedback Survey
For Parents

Make the Most of the Holiday Break with Christmas STEM Experiments for Kids of All Ages
Keep kids engaged and learning over the holiday break with fun Christmas-themed science activities for kids in pre-k, kindergarten and elementary grades. Little Bins for Little Hands has a variety of age-appropriate science activities along with seasonal and themed experiments that are perfect for the holiday season. Why science and Christmas, according to Little Bins?
  • Kids love themed science and it gets them learning and loving the subject
  • Kids and parents can explore similar topics all year with different themes
  • Kids can explore subjects like chemistry and physics with easy-to-set-up and inexpensive activities and experiments
Explore activities like fizzing Christmas trees, crystal candy canes, candy cane fluff slime and more!
Visit the Activities Page
Important Dates
Recent News Releases

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