From the State Department of Education

DEPARTMENT IS HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
The Idaho State Department of Education will be hosting a series of regional public hearings on the proposed K-12 Common Core State Standards for mathematics and English language arts across Idaho in October.

Idaho has worked with 47 other states, two territories and the District of Columbia over the past year to develop these more rigorous, common standards in math and English language arts that are comparable with any country around the world. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia have already adopted the Common Core State Standards.

The standards will go back before the State Board for official approval in November. If approved, the standards will go to the Idaho Legislature in January 2011 for final approval.

This month, staff from the State Department of Education will hit the road again, traveling across Idaho to host a series of official public hearings on the proposed Common Core State Standards. These public hearings will not include a presentation on the standards but will provide the opportunity for people to offer comments for the official public record.

The Common Core State Standards are available for the public to review and comment on the State Department of Education’s website at http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/common/.

Common Core State Standards regional public hearings:
October 19: 6 p.m. in Meridian, Mountain View High School, Lecture Hall

If you are unable to attend a regional public meeting, please visit http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/common/ to learn more about the Common Core State Standards for mathematics and English language arts and to submit your comments online.

CELEBRATE SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK
Join the State Department of Education in celebrating School Bus Safety Week on October 18-22


2010 Holiday Card Contest is underway 
 Each year, the State Department of Education sponsors a Holiday Card contest to draw attention to art programs in Idaho’s elementary schools. One drawing is selected for the Department’s holiday greeting. The child who submits the selected artwork receives cards for his or her own use.  The winning entry for each grade also receives a certificate. Submissions must be postmarked by Friday, November 5, 2010. The rules and submission information for the contest are available online at http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/humanities/.