As many concerned Idahoans are aware, there has been a constant education battle in our state concerning the Idaho Content Standards which are patterned after (and in many cases identical to) Common Core Standards. What you may not have heard is that during the Idaho Legislative session earlier this year, a special committee was created by the Legislature and the Idaho Department of Education to review the Idaho Content Standards and recommend a replacement for them. (This committee is split into various committees that address the specific subjects of English Language Arts, Math, and Science standards for different grades). This was a significant step in the right direction, but we need YOUR help to make this a real win for Idaho. The appointed committee members must hear from parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens like you in order to accurately represent your beliefs regarding the current Idaho Content Standards and how it should be improved.
Below are three opportunities for you to act to end Common Core and enrich education by insisting on fresh performance standards.
1. To express your experiences and thoughts on this matter, we are asking you to take a moment to visit our website to explore resources that will help you identify committee (ELA, Math, Science) members in your area that you may contact. There you will find documents, a sample phone call script, a map of the Idaho education regions, a list of committee members, and some sample letters created by the Idaho chapter of the National Education Guardians that addresses our call to action. The sample letters are specific for each subject. You may copy these letters word for word in your communication to committee members, though we advise you to correspond in your own words, expressing your experience and concerns.
2. Further, please send an email describing your child/grandchild's experience with the content standards to our friends at [email protected]. This organization is gathering stories that demonstrate the struggles caused by the current content standards. Your personal stories will fuel the movementto have the current standards removed and replaced with improved education standards.
3. Lastly, tomorrow, on August 6th at 9 a.m., there will be a public meeting in Boise of this committee, formally called "Idaho Content Standards Committee." If education is a topic you are passionate about, we urge you to take the time to show up at the public meeting to show the committee that Idahoans are committed to high-quality education for our children. The agenda for this important meeting can be found here. Should you not be able to attend the public meeting in person, you may watch it via live stream here.
If you have any questions, please contact our policy associate Ms. Lindsey Zea at [email protected].
Thank you for your continued support of liberty, Idaho, and true education. You are the reason this state is one we are proud to call home.
In Liberty,
The Madison Liberty Institute
PS. Help spread the word, please share this message with your family and friends.
“It does not take a majority to prevail… but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”
– Samuel Adams
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The Madison Liberty Institute is an independent research and educational organization whose mission is to promote the founding principles of the American republic, free-market solutions, and “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” Our vision is a freer, more prosperous future -- one where our neighbors and future leaders understand and champion the virtues and institutions that create a more harmonious society and protect our rights to life, liberty, property, conscience, and the pursuit of happiness.
