33-1632. MASTERY-BASED EDUCATION. (1) The legislature finds that moving toward mastery-based education where students progress as they demonstrate mastery of a subject or grade level is in the best interest of Idaho students. The legislature further finds that moving from the current time-based system to a mastery-based approach will allow for more personalized and differentiated learning; create a focus on explicit, measurable, transferable learning objectives that empower students; and emphasize competencies that include application and knowledge along with skill development.

(2) The state department of education shall perform the following activities to move Idaho toward mastery-based education:

(a) Provide ongoing statewide outreach and communications to increase awareness and understanding of and promote interest in mastery-based education for teachers, administrators, parents, students, business leaders, and policymakers;

(b) Facilitate and maintain the Idaho mastery education network composed of Idaho public school districts and charter schools that collaborate to transition Idaho to mastery-based education. The network shall:

(i) Advise the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education on the progress of the transition to mastery-based education;

(ii) Develop evidence-based recommendations for continued implementation;

(iii) Implement the policies of the legislature and the state board of education for the transition to mastery-based education; and

(iv) Provide network resources, including professional development, coaching, and best practices, to Idaho public school districts and charter schools; and

(c) Create a sustainability plan for statewide scaling of mastery-based education and ensure that all public school districts and charter schools participating in the Idaho mastery education network develop plans that describe how the public school district or charter school will maintain a mastery-based approach to education. Plans must include a process to develop the rubrics and assessments necessary to determine mastery and award credit.

(3) The state department of education may expend or distribute moneys appropriated for purposes identified in subsection (2) of this section directly to public school districts and charter schools that are participating in the mastery education network and have applied and been selected to receive mastery-based education grants. The cost of activities provided for in this section shall be paid by the state department of education from moneys appropriated for this program in the educational support program budget as provided for in section 33-1002, Idaho Code.

(4) Any public school district or charter school may participate in the mastery education network by applying to the state department of education, even if such district or school is not selected to receive mastery-based education grants.

(5) No later than January 31 of each year, the state department of education shall report annually to the state board of education and the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives regarding the progress toward implementing mastery-based education.

(6) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Mastery-based education " means an education system where student progress is based on a student’s demonstration of mastery of competencies and content, not seat time or the age or grade level of the student.

(b) "Network" means the Idaho mastery education network.

History:

[(33-1632) 33-1630 , added 2015, ch. 68, sec. 1, p. 183; am. and redesig. 2016, ch. 45, sec. 1, p. 95; am. and redesig. 2016, ch. 47, sec. 17, p. 111; am. 2019, ch. 189, sec. 1, p. 600.]