(Idaho Falls). The Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) voted Thursday to waive its rule, for one year, requiring Idaho 2nd and 9th grade students to take the Idaho Student Achievement Test (ISAT). The ISAT is Idaho’s mechanism to satisfy federal requirements under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The Board also determined not to administer the fall ISAT for one year.
The Board also heard an update from the University of Idaho on its plan to possibly expand the College of Law to Boise.
They also approved coaching contracts for Greg Graham, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Boise State University (BSU), Chad Teichert, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Idaho State University and Seton Sobolewski, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Idaho State University (ISU). The Board also approved a radio broadcasting contract between BSU and Peak Media for BSU Athletics.
Members of the Board voted to postpone a decision on a proposal by the University of Idaho regarding the Harbor Center in Coeur d’Alene until September 2008
Budgets and strategic plans for each of the agencies and institutions who report to the Idaho State Board of Education were presented and approved. These include: University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Boise State University, Lewis Clark State College, Eastern Idaho Technical College, Division of Professional Technical Education, Commission for Libraries, Idaho Historical Society, Idaho Public Television and the Office of the State Board of Education and other special programs governed by SBOE.
Members of the Idaho State Board of Education also voted unanimously to endorse and support a state wide effort to reduce incidents of bullying in schools and improve student and school safety called Rachel’s Challenge. Rachel’s Challenge is the work of the surviving family of Rachel Scott, the first person killed in the Columbine School Shooting of April 1999. Rachel Scott spoke just one month before her murder about starting a chain reaction to change our schools, communities and collective lives by treating each other with respect and honesty. To learn more about Rachel’s Challenge, please visit http://www.rachelschallenge.com.
To learn more about the Idaho State Board of Education, please visit www.boardofed.idaho.gov.