Idaho public schools to teach about prenatal development

Gov. Brad Little late last week signed into law a bill requiring teachers to use material that covers how an infant develops while in the womb. The state House of Representatives passed the law 63-6 in March following its overwhelming approval by the Senate in February. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, students in grades 5 through 12 will learn about fetal growth. Idaho is the third state to adopt a law mandating instruction on prenatal development after North Dakota and Tennessee.

What is included in the curriculum? The instructional materials show how vital organs including the brain and heart develop early in fetal growth. A high-quality, computer-generated rendering of the process of fertilization and growth during every week of pregnancy is also included in the curriculum. The animation could be the “Baby Olivia” video produced by pro-life advocacy group Live Action, or similar videos. Teaching children about how human life begins and the beauty of life in the womb is a fundamental part of science education, Live Action founder Lila Rose said.

Critics have argued that the bill could limit what teachers can include in their courses on human growth and development. The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, which promotes sex education and collaborates with pro-abortion groups, criticized the animated development video produced by Live Action. The sex ed council complained that such videos could stigmatize abortion.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in WORLD Magazine about pro-life activists serving prison time.