The Idaho Department of Education is accepting feedback on three draft proposals aiming to streamline regulations and reduce spending requirements.

The recommendations are being brought to the public eight months after the U.S. Department of Education encouraged states to change their regulations on testing waivers and pursue Ed-Flex status. IDE is proposing applying for Ed-Flex state status, which gives the state the authority to waive provisions of federal programs which are impeding growth. 

Some of the restrictions that IDE could waive as an Ed-Flex state include certain parts of the Every Student Succeeds Act. In waiving the provisions, the state could provide further financial assistance to schools and districts with a high population of low-income students, among other improvements. 

If approved, the IDE is set to develop a statewide framework to implement Ed-Flex waivers, including an application, reporting and review. 

The IDE is also seeking two waivers to streamline districts’ testing requirements, which it plans to submit in early 2026 pending public comment and approval from the State Board of Education.  

The department is considering replacing the third grade English Language Arts portion of the Idaho Standards Achievement Test with the Idaho Reading Indicator. It is also proposing replacing the 11th grade ISAT with a student or school selected assessment.  

The IDE said these changes will bring the state’s assessments more in-line with the state’s current goals of increasing early literacy and supporting different graduation pathways. 

Idaho Department of Education’s final recommendation is intended to enhance spending flexibility and reduce the burden on local education agencies.  

It is proposing rewriting guidance documents which are “outdated, more restrictive than federal law requires, or inaccurate” and removing aspects of grant applications that it says are too restrictive. 

For more information on the proposed changes and to provide comments, head to bit.ly/3WTLixx. Public comment will remain open through the end of the year.