Sherri Ybarra votes to replace Common Core standards

BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra voted in favor of replacing Common Core standards in education.

Proposed legislation to adopt new standards for math, science, and English Language Arts, as well as to replace certification standards for school personnel advanced from the House Education Committee Thursday morning.

Board of Education staff had encouraged their staff to oppose the legislation, but ultimately voiced support for new standards as long as concerns over the cost of aligning assessments with the standards were met.

Ybarra said endorsing the new legislation would send a message to the public, who have pushed for the legislation to be replaced.

“The perception of the public is these are Common Core standards, and they are still not happy,” Superintendent Ybarra told the board.

“We did what legislators and the public asked us to do. We did the work and followed the process, set by the State Board of Education, of reviewing and revising standards,” Superintendent Ybarra continued. “These new standards are streamlined, simplified, clear, and still rigorous.”

Most board members said they support the new standards, even though most did not cast votes. The bill and resolution were sent to the House floor with a “do pass recommendation.”