Education board to hold hearings on online courses

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The state Board of Education plans to take public comment next month on proposed online course requirements for high school students.

Board spokesman Mark Browning says trustees are looking at a rule to require students to take two online course credits to graduate. The board will take public comment on the proposal during August meetings across the state.

Browning says trustees are expected to vote in October on the proposed rule, which would start with the class of 2016

The board is drafting online course requirements as part of new education changes that were signed into law this year with backing from public schools chief Tom Luna and the governor.

Luna, who sits on the board, wanted students to take up to eight online course credits but lawmakers ditched that provision in the 2011 session.