BOISE, ID — The Our Kids, Idaho's Future Task Force has been working on a five-year blueprint for improvement of Idaho's K-12 public education system.
"The governor is really focused on readiness, having school readiness, the early levels for kindergarten readiness and then college and career readiness, once a student is exiting the high school arena," said Debbie Critchfield, president, Idaho State Board of Education.
The governor's task force for K-12 education is one meeting away from voting on recommendations Governor Little will consider as his priorities for education in the coming legislative session. There are five recommendations heading to the governor's desk.
One of those is state-funded, optional all-day kindergarten.
Critchfield says there's a direct link between kindergarten and meeting expectatoins for reading at grade level by third grade.
Other recommendations the committee are working on relate to social and emotional support and professional development for teachers. Others are building out and updating the career ladder and increased flexibility in the K-12 funding formula.
"Ultimately what we're trying to do is create opportunities for students regardless of what it is they want to do, that they have the skills and they have the knowledge and the training that they need to be successful taxpayers and citizens in Idaho."
The next meeting will be on November 4th where the committee will vote on the final recommendations.
