Idaho’s Student Achievement Results Receive National Recognition

Idaho’s success in raising student achievement is being touted in a national report published this month.

The national Center on Innovation and Improvement has published Transforming a Statewide System of Support: The Idaho Story, by Brett Lane, as an example to other states on how they can improve student achievement statewide.

“Idaho’s story demonstrates the value of collaboration, commitment, and above all leadership,” said Sam Redding, Director of the Center on Innovation and Improvement. “Their energy and focus transformed the state’s approach to school improvement by building capacity at all levels.  And the evidence is clear that a customer-driven focus can be a catalyst for real change.”

The case study highlights the complex nature of state-level change. By building upon internal capacity and external resources, Idaho has energetically and single-mindedly transformed how the state approached, not only its lowest-performing schools but moved toward school improvement overall in only three years, according to the Center on Innovation and Improvement. This timely transformation story highlights triggers and conditions other states can identify to advance their own improvement efforts.

“By working with educators, parents, and our hard-working students, we have been able to raise student achievement at all levels. I am excited Idaho is now a national leader and receiving recognition for its hard work and great success,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said.

The Center on Innovation & Improvement is administered by the Academic Development Institute in collaboration with its partners, Temple University Center for Research in Human Development and Education and Little Planet Learning.  The Academic Development Institute and its partners—Temple University Center for Research in Human Development and Education and Little Planet Learning—operate the Center on Innovation and Improvement with an experienced staff, a Scientific Council with distinguished scholars, a Leadership Council of school administrators, and technical advisors with specific expertise.


~ Melissa M.