Idaho
May 12, 2015
“Mixed Reviews” for Idaho School Improvement Efforts
November 15, 2018
Looking at Idaho’s “plans for improving low-performing schools,” Clark Corbin reports that Promise to Practice peer reviewers praised the state “for using education coaches to help drive school improvement.” However, peer reviewers also “raised questions about whether Idaho is doing enough to direct school improvement...
ID Says Nearly Half of Schools Need Improvement
October 30, 2018
“Since August, the State Department of Education has flagged 46 percent of all Idaho public schools as needing improvement,” reports Clark Corbin. In total, “336 of Idaho’s 725 public schools and charters have been identified for improvement” under the state’s ESSA-inspired accountability system.
Idaho District Implementing ESSA-based “21st Century Community Learning Center”
August 24, 2018
Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille School District has been “awarded a grant to implement a 21st Century Community Learning Center program” at Farmin-Stidwell and Kootenai elementary schools, Mary Malone writes in the Bonner County Daily Bee. Their purpose is three-fold, says district Teaching and Learning Director Andra...
Idaho Identifies Struggling Schools
August 15, 2018
Clark Corbin reports that in Idaho State Department of Education officials recently released a list of the state’s 29 lowest-performing schools as part of the state’s ESSA plan. Schools were identified based on a variety of indicators—assessments, student growth, ELL proficiency, student surveys, graduation rates, college and...
Feds Give Idaho ESSA Plan the Nod
March 30, 2018
KPVI News 6 reports that the state’s ESSA plan has been approved by the federal government. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra made the announcement on March 29 after receiving a “personal call” from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
State Board Approves Revised ESSA Plan
February 15, 2018
In Idaho, the State Board of Education has approved a revised ESSA plan following the U.S. Department of Education’s request last year “for clarity and more information.” Idaho State Board and State Department of Education representatives revised portions of Idaho’s ESSA compliance plan at a...
Student Survey a “Go” in Idaho
February 8, 2018
Kevin Richert reports for Idaho EdNews that the state’s “controversial” and ESSA-inspired statewide student survey “is still on for this spring—but the state has switched its survey vendor.” The online survey will occur in April and May.
Idaho Receives Federal Feedback
January 2, 2018
Following a conference call with the U.S. Dept. of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra and State Board of Education President Linda Clark received a letter with federal feedback on Idaho’s ESSA plan. According to Idaho EdNews, “In that letter, Botel asked Ybarra and...
State Ed Board Reconsiders Student Survey
December 21, 2017
According to Idaho Ed News, after an outcry from educators, the state’s Board of Education is “poised to change its controversial plan to identify low-performing schools in part based on student surveys.” Teachers and administrators felt the survey was biased, and “feared what would happen...
ID Public Schools to Use Student Engagement Survey
October 25, 2017
Next year, as part of the state’s plan to comply with ESSA, Idaho public school students will be able to grade their schools and teachers via a student engagement survey. Students “in grades 3 through 12 will be asked questions in three different categories: school...
State Plan Submissions and Drafts
October 17, 2017
Approved State Plans Alabama: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Alaska: Final Plan Approved (5/16/18) Arizona: Final Plan Approved (9/6/17) Arkansas: Final Plan Approved (1/16/18) Colorado: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Connecticut: Final Plan Approved (8/15/17) Delaware: Final Plan Approved (8/2/17) District of Columbia: Final Plan Approved (8/28/17) Georgia:...
ID Submits ESSA Plan to U.S. Dept. of Ed
September 15, 2017
Idaho submitted its ESSA plan to the U.S. Dept. of Education “after Gov. Butch Otter gave the plan his approval.” However, “in a letter to the State Board of Education, Otter asked for more details about how Idaho will deal with its lowest performing and...
ID Plan Goes to Gov. for Review
August 10, 2017
The Idaho State Board of Education unanimously approved the state’s draft ESSA plan. Gov. Butch Otter will review the document for 30 days before final submission.
ID Dept. of Ed Releases Final Draft ESSA Plan
July 28, 2017
The Idaho Dept. of Education released the state’s final draft ESSA plan for public review. Karlynn Laraway, the state Department of Education’s director of assessment and accountability, stated, “We will be presenting the final draft of the plan for consideration and a vote of approval...
ID Senate Education Committee Chairman Requests Update on State’s ESSA Plan
June 27, 2017
This week, House Education Committee Chairwoman Julie VanOrden and Senate Education Committee Chairman Dean Mortimer “called the rare summer meeting to receive an update on Idaho’s ESSA plans.” Lawmakers were told that the plan is being revised “to make it more feasible for public schools...
ID Dept. of Ed Releases State’s 6th Draft ESA Plan
June 20, 2017
The Idaho Dept. Public Instruction released the state’s sixth draft ESSA plan for public review and comment. Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra also “opened a 40-day public comment period. Idahoans can review the draft and leave feedback online through July 30.”
ID Ed Groups Express Frustrations with Being Excluded from Drafting the State’s ESSA Plan
June 15, 2017
The Idaho Education Association and Idaho School Boards Association sent a letter to Governor Butch Otter and State Board of Education members expressing their frustration in continuing to be “excluded from drafting Idaho’s state ESSA plan.” ISBA Executive Director Karen Echeverria said, “The importance is obvious...
ID Announces Plan to Submit ESSA Plan in September
April 18, 2017
The Idaho State Dept. of Education announced it will submit an ESSA implementation plan in September. The State Board will review the plan in June and vote on final approval in August.
ID State Board Seeking Public Input on State Plan
October 19, 2016
The Idaho Board of Education is seeking public input as it develops accountability plans to implement under the Every Student Succeeds Act. The Board will host a forum in Lewiston on October 20 from 6-8 pm at the Lewis-Clark State College. “We think this is...
Idaho to Release State ESSA Plan
October 6, 2016
Jeff Church, spokesman for the state Dept. of Education, indicated that Idaho is planning to release a draft of its state plan within the next few weeks. Education leaders will seek public input on that plan through November.
State Board Unanimously Endorses New Accountability Framework
August 11, 2016
Members of the State Board of Education gave preliminary approval to “the first accountability system to govern Idaho schools in years.” Board members unanimously endorsed the new accountability framework, which is still under development and will take effect during the 2017-18 school year. The Board...
ID State Board Pushes Back Against Summative Rating Requirement
June 13, 2016
A State Board of Education subcommittee reported that they will “push back against a potential federal education reporting requirement” under ESSA. The proposal which would require states to assign a comprehensive, summative rating for each school does not “sit well” with the board’s Accountability and...
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Releases State ESSA Primers
May 16, 2016
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s primers include individual state by state accountability system fact sheets, which detail each state’s current accountability system, what could change under ESSA, and what to be asking state leaders. See details about your state here.
ID Dept. of Education Forms Working Groups
April 6, 2016
The Dept. of Education announced they will form working groups focused on Idaho’s transition under ESSA. The groups will look at specific issue areas including migrant education, English learners, standards and assessment, accountability, educator effectiveness and others. Read more here.