Idaho Department of Education

Public Education is an ideal that Americans have maintained for hundreds of years. In Idaho, our public schools accept ALL youth and promote literacy, growth & grit. Our educated citizenry is an essential part of maintaining a healthy democratic republic. This #PublicSchoolsWeek we want to thank #educators, #families and every #Idahoan who helps ensure our kids are #literate, #logical & #informed. We also celebrate the #LocalControl and #SchoolChoice that keep #Idaho schools current, responsive & continuously optimized. #PSW24 #PublicSchoolProud #K12education

Idaho’s Early Literacy SMART Coaches from across the state recently gathered in Boise for an impactful two-day coaching alignment meeting. These dedicated and passionate educators are crucial in supporting our K-3 teachers by helping them implement evidence-based instructional strategies and interventions grounded in the Science of Reading. Their efforts are paving the way for improved K-3 literacy outcomes for Idaho students across Idaho! 🙌📚 Thank you SMART Coaches! #IdahoSMARTCoaches #EarlyLiteracy #ScienceofReading #Dyslexia

Teachers never stop learning!! The Words to Worlds: Cultivating World-Changers event, made possible with the support of the Boise State University Writing Project, wrapped up its spring conference season in North Idaho in late June. These photos show some of the session topics, classroom locations and participants. Huge kudos to Jackie Miller, for organizing this professional development, and to all the amazing presenters that shared their knowledge and expertise with educators. Thank you to our host: Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene School District #271

The public comment window for proposed SLD-related changes to Idaho’s Special Education Manual closed this week. The department received a total of nine comments over the last two months. The proposed changes will go to the Idaho State Board of Education for consideration at its August 21 meeting. Background 👇 👉 https://lnkd.in/grGYhhMj #SpecialEducation #Idaho #SpecificLearningDisability

We’re creating valuable guides to aid families... Reinforcing to parents that they are the final say in their child’s education and that schools are there to provide the needed resources helps foster trust and confidence in what #schools can do. #NewsRelease #OpEd #EmpowerParents #EmpowerEducators #Idaho #SpecialEducation #K12education #ListeningSessions #ProfessionalDevelopment

Idaho’s Advanced Opportunities program makes $4,625 available to every Idaho public and private school student to use for overload courses, dual credits, exams and/or workforce training. Learn more during this fall’s virtual training series. RSVP for the event that makes sense for you! 👇 📅 Beginner Training - Sept 4 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dPjcSvHW 📅 Beginner Training - Sept 17 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dHtch8CX 📅 Private School Training - Aug 27 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dD6NiwcK 📅 Private School Training - Sept 11 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dzUMY2uq 📅 Parent & Student Webinar - Aug 15 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dFrTZ_Bq 📅 Parent & Student Webinar - Sept 17 🔗 https://lnkd.in/db3_caQa #Idaho #HighSchool #Teachers #ProfessionalDevelopment #Parents #Family #Students #AdvancedOpportunities #CareerReadyStudents

Earlier this spring, Superintendent Critchfield visited Mrs. Mascall’s first-grade class at Innovate Academy & Preparatory School in Eagle to support early literacy which, along with grade-level reading proficiency, is one of this department’s top goals. After reading two books, the class surprised her with a t-shirt and then the students all signed it! Such a sweet memento, thank you! 📖 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Innovate Academy and Preparatory School is a finance and business private school. The school’s philosophy is to encourage students’ entrepreneurial spirit and promote values like #financialLiteracy, mindfulness, life skills, community service, and personal responsibility. #Idaho #SchoolSpirit #SuperintendentSpirit #EarlyLiteracy #Reading #GradeLevelProficiency

What's in Idaho's high school graduation requirements? What *should* be? Hear about it in episode 15 of “The Super in 10.” 🎙️ “The Super in 10” is a podcast for anyone interested in the state's K-12 education landscape. #Idaho #K12education #HighSchoolGraduationRequirements #HighSchool #CareerReadyStudents

**STAFF SPOTLIGHT** Kathy Gauby has worked for the Idaho Department of Education for over a decade. Today is her last day before retiring. She has served as the state’s curricular review coordinator (15 months), the Title I-A/IV-A/federal programs monitoring coordinator (four years), the rural education coordinator (during ESSER), the interim federal programs coordinator (one year) and the Title II-A educator effectiveness coordinator (five years). She holds a BA in elementary and special education from McPherson College and a Master’s in curriculum and instruction from Indiana Wesleyan University. Before joining our department, Kathy had a whole other career spanning 30-plus years in Kansas and Indiana. Throughout her career, she served in Title I schools as a special education and general education classroom teacher, elementary reading and math interventionist, and middle school district instructional coach. Kathy always wanted to be a teacher. Her grandmother, mother, and several aunts and uncles all had jobs in education and, as early as fourth grade, Kathy remembers serving as a classroom “helper” to aid younger students during summer school. She says she’s been fortunate to have so many mentors and role models (many of them teachers) over the course of her professional work. In her most recent role for the Idaho Department of Education, Kathy supports staff from Idaho districts and charter schools regarding: ➡️ Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) program requirements for the various Title programs under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) ➡️ Consolidated and State Grant Application (CFSGA) ➡️ Evaluation policies review & evaluation requirement reporting (CLDS- Career Ladder Data System) ➡️ Danielson Framework for Teaching workshops ➡️ Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) support ➡️ U.S. Department of Education reporting ➡️ and more!! Kathy, thank you for making your life’s work about helping students succeed. You will be missed! Happy Retirement!!

Live in the Coeur d'Alene area? Consider hosting a Think Make Create (TMC) Lab for the Idaho Out-of-School Network 👇 👇 👇 Ensure North Idaho students can continue using this powerful learning tool! #STEM #STEAM #Idaho #AfterSchool #Students