Education in Idaho & Beyond — American School Counselors Association in Idaho Schools. By Idaho Freedom Foundation Center for American Education.  

• Article: idahofreedom.org/resear…

• Download the report (PDF): tinyurl.com/yc8reece

Idaho Freedom Foundation has produced a report showing that the American School Counselors Association (ASCA’s) National Model is spreading throughout Idaho and the rest of the country.

ASCA promotes progressive priorities such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and LGBT ideology, transforming school counselors into "progressive activists." Under this model, school counselors can make decisions for students without parental consent, a tactic that enables schools to secretly allow children to gender transition.

Summary of the Report’s Summary (Grok ai, edited)

Idaho Schools and Districts That Explicitly Adopted ASCA National Model (alphabetical order):

• Centennial Elementary School (Lewiston Independent School District)

• Coeur D’Alene School District

• McCall-Donnely High School (McCall-Donnely Joint School District)

• Oakley Elementary School (Cassia County School District)

• Plummer/Worley School District

• Twin-Falls School District

• Vallivue High School (Vallivue School District)

• West Ada School District

• Wood River High School (Blaine County District)

Widespread Use of ASCA Framework Virtually every district in Idaho has adopted ASCA’s three-part framework for counseling policies, covering academic, career, and social/emotional development.

Influence Through Universities and State Division Idaho universities granting counseling degrees are accredited by organizations allied with ASCA, which promote the National Model. Idaho’s state division is Idaho School Counselor Association (ISCA), which promotes DEI practices and advocates for progressive legislation in the state.

ASCA National Model Details The model instructs counselors to act as advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion, and LGBTQ priorities in schools and beyond. It allows counselors to make decisions for students without parental consent when deemed necessary.

Concerns and Impacts

• ASCA policies have led to incidents in other states, such as bathroom and locker room assignments based on gender identity.

• ASCA model affects parental rights and student safety, and promotes certain values in schools.

• Recommendation: Eliminate ASCA’s influence in Idaho

_________

Is DEI illegal in Idaho K-12 public schools? Short answer is NO, not really.

We asked Grok and Chat GPT: Is DEI illegal in Idaho public schools? If yes, please specify statutes prohibiting it.

Grok answer:

No, DEI is not explicitly illegal in Idaho K-12 public schools. However, related practices are prohibited under Idaho Code § 33-138 (HB 377: bans compelling certain race/sex tenets) and Idaho Code § 33-1614 (HB 41: bans ideological displays like certain flags/banners).

• Idaho Code § 33-138 (HB 377): tinyurl.com/4u8tny2h

• Idaho Code § 33-1614 (HB 41): tinyurl.com/4uyf4j6s

ChatGPT answer:

Idaho has passed laws restricting or banning many DEI-related practices in public education, especially in higher education or K–12 displays.

NOTE: “DEI” is not always used explicitly in the statute, but many provisions target “diversity, equity, inclusion” or “ideological” concepts.

Idaho Laws that limit or ban DEI-type programs or expression in public schools or colleges:

• Senate Bill 1198 (2025): Bans DEI-based practices in higher education. tinyurl.com/36wyv6yk

• House Bill 41 (2025): Prohibits the display of flags or banners in public (K-12) schools that represent “political, religious, or ideological views” — including race, gender, sexual orientation or political ideology (scroll down for link).

• Other “DEI / critical theory / diversity statements” bans: Public university employment or admissions, DEI offices in higher ed, etc.

What Isn’t (or Isn’t Clearly) Banned

• Laws do not ban all DEI-related activity. Exceptions may exist (or litigation / constitutional challenges may arise).

• Some DEI elements remain (or may remain) under certain conditions. Example: SB 1198 allows exceptions for college programs focused on racial, ethnic or gender studies.

• Some bans focus on higher education rather than K–12 curriculum itself.

Summary of DEI Bans

• Many DEI-related offices, trainings, statements, and banners are now illegal under state law — especially in higher education or in classroom displays in K–12.

• Main statutes / laws are Senate Bill 1198 (2025) for colleges / universities, and House Bill 41 (2025), which adds Idaho Code § 33-143 for flags / banners in public schools.