Idaho State Department of Education

Executive agency of the Idaho state education system

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Idaho Department of Education

Agency overview
Headquarters| Boise, Idaho
Agency executive|

* Debbie Critchfield, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction

Parent agency| Idaho State Board of Education
Website| https://www.sde.idaho.gov/

The Idaho Department of Education is an executive agency of the Idaho state education system.[1][2] The department is responsible for public elementary and secondary school matters as provided by Title 33, Idaho Code, or as determined by the Idaho State Board of Education.[3] It is headquartered in the state capital, Boise, Idaho.

The Idaho Department of Education is helmed by the Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, an elected official.

Each year the Idaho Department of Education serves more than 300,000 students,[4] at 736 schools,[5] across 115 districts.[6]

## Superintendents of Public Instruction

[edit]

The Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected official and chief executive officer of the Idaho Department of Education responsible for carrying out the policies, procedures, and duties authorized by law or established by the Board for all public elementary and secondary school matters.

The office of superintendent is established in the Idaho Constitution[7] Article IV, Section 1; "The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction, each of whom shall hold his office for four years beginning on the first Monday in January next after his election, commencing with those elected in the year 1946..."

Before 1946, Idaho superintendents of public instruction were elected every two years.

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction2024 official photo of Debbie Critchfield in her capacity as Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction

Debbie Critchfield, the incumbent Superintendent (2023-present)

State Government (1890–present)[8] Name  | Party Affiliation  | Tenure  | Notes

|
|
|

Critchfield, Debbie | R  | 01/02/2023 to present  | Elected 2022[9]
Ybarra, Sherri | R  | 01/05/2015 to 01/02/2023  | Elected 2014;[10] reelected 2018[11]
Luna, Tom | R  | 01/01/2007 to 1/04/2015  | Elected 2006;[12] reelected 2010[13]
Howard, Marilyn | D  | 01/04/1999 to 01/01/2007  | Elected 1998; reelected 2002[14]
Fox, Anne C.  | R  | 01/02/1995 to 01/04/1999  | Elected 1994[15]
Evans, Jerry L.  | R  | 01/01/1979 to 01/02/1995  | Elected 1978; reelected 1982, 1986, 1990
Truby, Roy F.  | D  | 01/06/1975 to 01/01/1979  | Elected 1974
Engelking, D.F.  | D  | 01/05/1959 to 01/06/1975  | Elected 1958; reelected 1962, 1966, 1970
Jones, Alton B.  | R  | 01/06/1947 to 01/05/1959  | Elected 1946; reelected 1950, 1954
Sullivan, G.C.  | D  | 01/01/1945 to 01/06/1947  | Elected 1944
Chatburn, Acel H.  | R  | 03/13/1944 to 01/01/1945  | Appointed to fill vacancy
Roberts, C.E.  | D  | 01/06/1941 to 03/13/1944  | Elected 1940; reelected 1942; resigned 3/13/1944
Condie, John W.  | D  | 01/02/1933 to 01/06/1941  | Elected 1932; reelected 1934, 1936, 1938
Davis, Myrtle R.  | R  | 01/07/1929 to 01/02/1933  | Elected 1928; reelected 1930
Lyman, Mabelle McConnell  | R  | 01/03/1927 to 01/07/1929  | Elected 1926
Russum, Elizabeth  | R  | 01/01/1923 to 01/03/1927  | Elected 1922; reelected 1924
Redfield, Ethel E.  | R  | 01/01/1917 to 01/01/1923  | Elected 1916; reelected 1918, 1920
McCoy, Bernice | R  | 01/04/1915 to 01/01/1917  | Elected 1914
Shepherd, Grace M.  | R  | 01/02/1911 to 01/04/1915  | Elected 1910; reelected 1913
Chamberlain, S. Belle  | R  | 01/07/1907 to 01/02/1911  | Elected 1906; reelected 1908
Scott, May L.  | R  | 01/05/1903 to 01/07/1907  | Elected 1902; reelected 1904
French, Permeal | D  | 01/01/1899 to 01/05/1903  | Elected 1898; reelected 1900
Anderson, Louis N.B.  | P-D  | 01/04/1897 to 01/02/1899  | Elected 1896
Foresman, C.A.  | R  | 01/07/1895 to 01/04/1897  | Elected 1894
Lower, B.B.  | R  | 01/02/1893 to 01/07/1895  | Elected 1892
Harroun, Joseph  | R  | 01/05/1891 to 01/02/1893  | Elected 1890
Territorial Government (1863-1890)[8] Name  | Start Date

|

Stevenson, Charles C.  | 11 February 1889
Moody, Silas W.  | 11 February 1887
Bishop, W.R.  | 25 July 1866
Chittenden, J.R.  | 23 December 1864

## Organization

[edit]

Following is the management hierarchy for the Idaho Department of Education.[16]

Office of the Superintendent

* Superintendent of Public Instruction
* Chief Deputy Superintendent
* Deputy Superintendent, Operations
* Deputy Superintendent, Communications and Policy

Communications and Policy

* Deputy Superintendent, Communications and Policy

Operations

* Deputy Superintendent, Operations
* Director, Accountability
* Director, Assessment
* Director, Federal Programs
* Director, Content and Curriculum
* Director, Special Education
* Coordinator, School Choice
* Coordinator, Indian Education

Management and Educational Services

* Chief Deputy Superintendent
* Management Assistant
* Chief Financial Officer, Public School Finance
* Associate Deputy, Chief Financial Officer
* Contracts and Procurement Officer
* Director, Certification and Professional Standards
* Director, Student Engagement and Safety Coordination
* Director, Child Nutrition Programs
* Director, Student Transportation
* Director, Human Resources and Employment

## Responsibilities

[edit]

The Idaho Department of Education implements policies, distributes funds, administers statewide assessments, licenses educators, and provides accountability data for all kindergarten through grade-12 public instruction.[5]

Idaho K-12 charter schools are managed by the Idaho Public Charter School Commission[17] and abide by independent reporting and funding procedures, however, the Idaho Department of Education works closely with the commission to ensure access, equability, and accountability across all Idaho education efforts. This extends to the inclusion of charter schools in the Idaho Schools "report card" tool,[4] which aggregates performance, progress, and enrollment data for all Idaho public schools.

## Programs

[edit]

The Idaho Department of Education supports Idaho schools and students through its work in fourteen areas.[18]

* Accounting
* Assessment & Accountability
* Idaho Reading Indicator
* ISAT Comprehensive Assessment System
* Certification and Professional Standards
* Child Nutrition Programs
* Child and Adult Care Food Program
* School Meals Programs
* Summer Food Service Program
* Content & Curriculum
* Idaho Content Standards
* Federal Programs
* Educator Effectiveness
* English Learner Program/Title III
* Title I, Title II, Title IV, Title V, Title IX[19][20][21]
* Idaho Indian Education
* Mastery Education
* Public School Finance
* School Choice
* Alternative Schools[22]
* Home School[23]
* Magnet School[24]
* Special Education
* Results Driven Accountability Monitoring System[25]
* Student Engagement & Safety Coordination
* Advanced Opportunities[26][27]
* Driver Education
* Idaho Lives Project (in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare)[28]
* School Health Services Program
* Student Transportation
* Technology Services
* E-rate
* Broadband Program

## Challenges

[edit]

Of the 44 counties in Idaho, seven are urban and 37 are rural as classified by the Idaho Department of Labor.[29] That translates to three quarters of the school districts in Idaho being recognized as rural, per the Idaho statute definition.[30] The schools in these rural areas are regularly challenged to find and retain effective teachers to meet the needs of all of their students, transport students quickly and safely to and from school, and respond to unexpected personnel or technology needs in order to deliver uninterrupted instruction.[31]

In 2021, the statewide high school graduation rate was 80.1 percent while the college enrollment rate was 37 percent.[32][33] In rural schools, these rates tend to be lower.[34]

## Idaho State Board of Education

[edit]

The general supervision, governance, and control of the state educational institutions and public school system of the State of Idaho, as with the education system's executive agencies, are vested in the Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE).[3] State statute requires that this Board "...shall consist of the state superintendent of public instruction, who shall be an ex officio voting member and who shall serve as executive secretary of the board for all elementary and secondary school matters..."[35]

Board Members may be contacted through the Office of the State Board of Education. Current members of the Board include:[36]

* Dr. Linda Clark, President
* Bill Gilbert
* Shawn Keough
* Kurt Liebich
* Dr. David Hill
* Cally Roach
* Cindy Siddoway
* Debbie Critchfield

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Board Governance Structure". Idaho State Board of Education. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
2. ^ "IV.B. - State Department of Education". Idaho State Board of Education. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
3. ^ a b "Section 33-125 – Idaho State Legislature". Retrieved January 13, 2019.
4. ^ a b "Idaho Department of Education - School Data KPI and Enrollment". Idaho Report Card. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
5. ^ a b "Idaho State Department of Education (SDE)". SDE. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
6. ^ "Facts About Public Education in Idaho". BLUUM. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
7. ^ "Idaho State Constitution Article IV". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
8. ^ a b N. Hui, Management Assistant, Idaho State Department of Education via email, July 6, 2022.
9. ^ Education, Idaho State Board of (January 12, 2016). "Debbie Critchfield". Idaho State Board of Education. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
10. ^ "Statewide Totals". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
11. ^ "Sherri Ybarra wins GOP primary". Idaho News 6 Boise Twin Falls (KIVI). May 16, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
12. ^ "2006 General Attorney General and Superintendent of Public Instruction by County". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
13. ^ "2010 General Results Secretary of State, State Controller, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Supt of Public Instr". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
14. ^ "State of Idaho Elections Database » Candidate: Marilyn Howard". State of Idaho Elections Database. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
15. ^ "1994 General Election Results". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
16. ^ "Idaho SDE Organizational Chart - Overview of Departments" (PDF). sde.idaho.gov. April 1, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
17. ^ "Idaho Public Charter School Commission; A tailored, quality, K-12 education choice". chartercommission.idaho.gov. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
18. ^ "Departments and Programs". sde.idaho.gov. 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
19. ^ "Idaho Education Equity in 2022" (PDF). National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity. June 23, 2022.
20. ^ McCann, Meghan (April 20, 2021). "Response to Information Request, Assessment and Accountability Waivers" (PDF). Education Commission of the States; Your education policy team. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
21. ^ "ESEA Consolidated State Plans". Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
22. ^ "Alternative Education for Expelled Students - Idaho | State Policy Database". statepolicies.nasbe.org. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
23. ^ "Idaho Homeschool Law". Homeschool Idaho. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
24. ^ "Top 10 Best Idaho Magnet Public Schools (2022)". www.publicschoolreview.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
25. ^ Yu, Diana (March 29, 2022). "Office of Special Education Program's Results Driven Accountability Home Page". www2.ed.gov. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
26. ^ "Advanced Opportunities: Idaho's Dual Enrollment Initiative". Manhattan Institute. May 21, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
27. ^ "Advanced Opportunities - Next Steps Idaho". nextsteps.idaho.gov. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
28. ^ "Idaho Lives Project". Idaho Resilience Project. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
29. ^ "Serving Rural Students in Idaho". Idaho Digital Learning Alliance. March 11, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
30. ^ "Section 33-319 – Idaho State Legislature". Retrieved July 6, 2022.
31. ^ "Rural School Support". sde.idaho.gov. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
32. ^ Bodkin, Devin (January 26, 2022). "Idaho high school graduation rate falls". Idaho Education News. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
33. ^ Richert, Kevin (February 1, 2022). "Sitting it out: Idaho's college go-on rate falls once again". Idaho Capital Sun. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
34. ^ Hassel, Bryan C.; Ellison, Shonaka; Cornier, Jeanette P. (October 2015). "Boosting Idaho Rural Students' College Prospects by Expanding Access to Great Teaching" (PDF). Rural Opportunities Consortium of Idaho: 33 - via Public Impact.
35. ^ "Section 33-102 – Idaho State Legislature". Retrieved July 6, 2022.
36. ^ "Board Members". boardofed.idaho.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Idaho State Department of Education YouTube

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