Education

MINUTES
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
DATE: Thursday, February 12, 2026
TIME: 3:00 P.M.
PLACE: Room WW55
MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Chairman Lent, Vice Chairman Cook, Senators Woodward, Nichols, Carlson,
Burtenshaw, Zito, Ward-Engelking, and Semmelroth
ABSENT/
EXCUSED:
None
NOTE: The sign-in sheet, testimonies and other related materials will be retained with
the minutes in the committee's office until the end of the session and will then be
located on file with the minutes in the Legislative Services Library.
CONVENED: Chairman Lent called the meeting of the the Senate Education Committee
(Committee) to order at 3:01 p.m.
MINUTES
APPROVAL:
Senator Burtenshaw moved to approve the Minutes of February 4, 2026. Senator
Zito seconded the motion. The motion carried by voice vote.
RS 33277C1 To establish provisions regarding the Idaho high-needs student funds.
Senator Blaylock presented the bill which would help schools with additional
expenses for students. The bill was initially introduced in 2025, but failed on the
floor. This version was strengthened to be more fiscally responsible.
MOTION: Senator Semmelroth moved to send RS 33277C1 to print. Senator Burtenshaw
seconded the motion. The motion carried by voice vote.
RS 33271 Pertaining to Social passes for home school students attending local district
events. Senator Kohl presented the bill which would allow students in grades
8-12 to purchase a $25 social pass to attend local school district events like
dances, college fairs, etc. It would bridge the gap between home school students
and traditional students.
DISCUSSION: Senator Nichols asked if this happened often in rural areas. Senator Kohl
responded that a constituent brought him this issue and that they received
conflicting answers on whether home school students could attend district events.
MOTION: Senator Zito moved to send RS 33271 to print. Senator Carlson seconded the
motion. The motion carried by voice vote.
RS 33334 Pertaining to Foreign national student athletes in Idaho's higher education
institutions. Senator Okuniewicz presented the bill which limited the number of
foreign student athletes on higher education sport teams.
MOTION: Senator Semmelroth motioned to send RS 33334 to print. Senator Nichols
seconded the motion. The motion carried by voice vote.
RS 33335 Repeals or updates 14 sections of Idaho Code in Title 33 relating to education.
Senator Semmelroth presented that this was a product of 2025 H 14 to cleanup
old code in Idaho Code Title 33.
MOTION: Senator Nichols moved to send RS 33335 to print. Senator Cook seconded the
motion. The motion carried by voice vote.

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PRESENTATION: Hayden Canyon Charter School. Sam Abrams, Charter
Administrator/Superintendent, presented to the Committee on what he
wanted to do to improve the state education system. Mr. Abrams stated he wanted
to decrease the amount of seat time students had, improve the happiness of
students, and show that learning was more than a series of exams. Mr. Abrams
stated the current system was based on the Carnegie system but believed the State
should design a system that would inspire growth over time.
DISCUSSION: Chairman Lent commented that Mr. Abrams' presentation showed how Idaho's
education could further grow. Senator Ward-Engelking agreed with Mr. Abrams'
presentation and stated that the state system needed to grow. Senator Zito
thanked him for his presentation because she could relate to changing the system
to fit each student's needs.
ADJOURNED: There being no further business at this time, Chairman Lent adjourned the meeting
at 3:34 p.m.
___________________________ ___________________________
Senator Lent Lauren Young
Chair Secretary
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 12, 2026—Minutes—Page 2

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MINUTES
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
DATE: Thursday, January 29, 2026
TIME: 3:00 P.M.
PLACE: Room WW55
MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Chairman Lent, Vice Chairman Cook, Senators Woodward, Nichols, Carlson,
Burtenshaw, Zito, Ward-Engelking, and Semmelroth
ABSENT/
EXCUSED:
None
NOTE: The sign-in sheet, testimonies and other related materials will be retained with
the minutes in the committee's office until the end of the session and will then be
located on file with the minutes in the Legislative Services Library.
CONVENED: Chairman Lent called the meeting of the Senate Education Committee (Committee)
to order at 3:00 p.m.
MINUTES
APPROVAL:
Senator Ward-Engelking moved to approve the minutes of January 21, 2026.
Senator Nichols seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote.
RS 32899 Repeals eight sections of Chapter 26, Title 33, Idaho Code that pertain to
regional library systems as the systems have not existed for more than 40
years. Senator Semmelroth presented that this was a product of H 14 related to
code cleanup and was reviewed by the Idaho DOGE Task Force.
MOTION: Senator Ward-Engelking moved to send RS 32899 to print. Senator Nichols
seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote.
RS 32912 Repeals or updates 17 sections of Idaho Code in Title 33 relating to education.
Senator Semmelroth presented that this was a product of H 14 related to code
cleanup and was reviewed by the Idaho DOGE task force.
MOTION: Senator Nicholsmoved to send RS 32912 to print. Senator Ward-Engelking
seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote.
PRESENTATION: Senator Semmelroth introduced Rae Ruiz who used spell to communicate (S2C).
Senator Semmelroth additionally introduced Ms. Ruiz's Communication Regulation
Partner (CMP), Jennifer Ruiz, and Kara Sanders, S2C Practitioner. Ms. Sanders
gave the Committee a presentation on what S2C was and how it allowed people
with complex communication needs to communicate with others. Rae Ruiz spelled
to the Committee her story which was read by her CMP. Ms. Ruiz was a 25 year
old who used S2C to speak. She loved reading, writing poems, and spelling in other
languages like Spanish, Russian, and Italian. Ms. Ruiz would like to pursue an
education in psychology and continue her advocacy work.
DISCUSSION: Senator Cook asked how old she was when she started spelling. Ms. Ruiz spelled
that she was 23 years old and she was an adult. Senator Nichols asked how hard
it was to learn other languages. Ms. Ruiz answered that it was not hard at all,
she found her autism astonishing in this regard. Senator Ward-Engelking asked
if she had enrolled in classes yet. Ms. Ruiz responded she had not yet, but she
looked forward to doing so soon. Senator Carlson asked what her favorite activity
was. Ms. Ruiz spelled she had many activities she enjoyed but was happiest in
her advocacy realm. Senator Cook asked Jennifer Ruiz how it felt being able to
talk to her daughter for the first time. Ms. Ruiz responded it was emotional and
she was excited to get to know Rae for the first time. She ended by stating it was a
true gift from God.

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PRESENTATION: Dr. Brooke Blevins, Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human
Sciences at the University of Idaho, gave a presentation on the Idaho Association
of Colleges of Teacher Education (IACTE). Dr. Blevins stated that IACTE is
the association of representatives from all Idaho regionally-accredited colleges
and universities with state-approved educator preparation programs focused
on producing professional teachers, principals and superintendents for Idaho
communities. IACTE helped prepare Idaho teachers for Idaho needs such as
student behavior, educator ethics, Career Technical Education, rural schools,
literacy, and generative artificial intelligence (AI).
DISCUSSION: Senator Cook asked what IACTE was doing with generative AI for teachers. Dr.
Blevins responded that teachers had incorporated AI into their curricula. IACTAE
was looking at the ethical standards of using AI and working on professional
development including AI. Senator Woodward asked about student behaviors and
what tools the legislature could provide. Dr. Blevins answered that teachers and
professionals needed more support to help with student behaviors. . Senator
Woodward asked about having behavioral expectations in schools. Dr. Blevins
responded that clear expectations were needed and this was where tiered
intervention came into play. Dr. Blevins mentioned that additional support for
teachers and professionals would help with this issue. Chairman Lent asked what
public education could look like in five years in terms of student behavior. Dr.
Blevins answered there were already issues and teachers needed support now.
Senator Ward-Engelking asked what resources IACTE needed. Dr. Blevins
responded that more resources were needed for teachers.
ADJOURNED: There being no further business at this time, Chairman Lent adjourned the meeting
at 3:56 p.m.
___________________________ ___________________________
Senator Lent Lauren Young
Chair Secretary
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Thursday, January 29, 2026—Minutes—Page 2

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