Debbie Critchfield

Idaho’s public education system is far better positioned coming out of the pandemic from a technology standpoint than we were a year ago.

The State Board, in partnership with Idaho AEYC, received a $6 million per year, three-year federal grant to help improve Idaho’s early childhood system “with an eye toward readiness and literacy.”

I want to assure you both Board, and Department staff are working hard to move the MEP process forward.

I want to commend our college and university presidents, their faculties and staffs for all they have done since last March to transform their campuses and their methods of instruction. 

In this public health crisis, preparation is not simply helpful, it is critical.

“Adversity” seems to be a fitting theme for 2020.  Let’s change the narrative for the remainder of the year and beyond to, “Opportunity.”  

By building on what our institutions already offer online, rather than starting from scratch, the new digital campus will improve the entire system, making higher education more accessible and affordable for more Idahoans.

All eight of Idaho’s colleges and universities are planning to start the fall semester on August 24.

Recognizing in March that a federal data model was slow in coming, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) Director Dave Jeppesen contacted the Idaho State Board of Education to enlist help from Idaho’s public higher education institutions. 

Our goal as education leaders is to finish out this academic year while doing the best we can for our students.