Our Work in the Field: Idaho

NCIL staff and expert coaches are working with several state education agencies and the local education agencies they identify to provide intensive technical assistance.

Our work with Idaho State Department of Education, Department of Special Education focuses on supporting school systems to effectively teach essential literacy content to all students, including students with or at risk for literacy-related disabilities. Work in Idaho also focuses on support of school systems to establish a comprehensive system of support for reading, including an emphasis on instruction and intervention, data use, professional development and coaching, leadership, and family engagement.

Our Goals

  • Build capacity among state education agencies (SEAs) to effectively implement evidence-based practices that meet the needs of students with or at risk for literacy-related disabilities, with a primary focus on schoolwide reading models designed to meet the needs of all learners through high quality literacy instruction and intervention in general education in grades K-3.
  • Support the goal of the ISDE State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) through their provision of coaching, training, and ongoing technical assistance for four cohorts of participating districts (2017-2021) to implement evidence-based practices with fidelity and sustainability.
  • Support implementation of a comprehensive system of support for reading with emphasis on instruction and intervention, data use, professional development and coaching, leadership, and family engagement.

Technical Assistance

Live-streamed professional development sessions describing the research basis and practical features of implementing the four recommendations of the Institute of Education Sciences Practice Guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (2017).

Four-year implementation plan for supporting Idaho districts through readiness, implementation, sustainability, and scale-up (2018).

Support for continuous improvement and data-based decision making through annual, NCIL-facilitated data institutes, using locally relevant student (Idaho Reading Indicator, Idaho Standards Achievement Test) and implementation (PET-R and RESET Rubric) data sources (in progress).

Development of a comprehensive, interactive Planning and Evaluation Tool, linking the current PET-Revised (2018) to implementation resources for facilitating schoolwide reading plans that meet the needs of all learners, including students with disabilities (in progress).

Four Idaho Public Television co-created instructional modules focused on effective implementation of the Institute of Education Sciences Practice Guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (in progress).

Idaho Public Television video vignettes showcasing our partnership (under revision).

About Idaho State Department of Education (ISDE)

ISDE is a government agency supporting schools and students in Idaho that is responsible for implementing policies, distributing funds, administering statewide assessments, licensing educators, and providing accountability data. ISDE’s Department of Special Education aims to enable all students to achieve high academic standards and quality of life by working collaboratively with districts, agencies, and parents to ensure students receive quality, meaningful, and needed services.

Idaho Public Schools Facts (FY2016-2018 Statistical Data):

  • 115 Districts
  • 52 Charters
  • 717 Schools
  • 298,000+ students

Meet the Idaho Team

Shannon Dunstan

Early Childhood and Results Driven Accountability Coordinator
ISDE, Special Education

Alayna Gee

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Coordinator
ISDE, Special Education

Idaho Public Television (IdahoPTV)

Jeff Tucker, Director of Content Services

Idaho Public Television

IdahoPTV is a statewide, non-commercial broadcast telecommunication system and news media provider based in the capital city of Boise with additional staffed facilities in Moscow and Pocatello. IdahoPTV is an entity of the Idaho State Board of Education, which holds in the public trust television and related broadcast telecommunication licenses issued and governed by the Federal Communications Commission.

IdahoPTV has as its mission to harness the power of public media to encourage lifelong learning, connect our communities, and enrich the lives of all Idahoans in its partnership with NCIL by:

  • Offering engaging, quality educational content and access to resources for parents, teachers and people of all ages, encouraging exploration and discovery.
  • Fostering participation and collaboration in educational, informational and civic activities.
  • Providing free programming and resources to every Idaho community, valuing the needs of our diverse audiences.

Lee Pesky Learning Center

Evelyn Johnson, Scientific Director

Lee Pesky Learning Center

Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC) provides individual learning services, small group interventions, parent outreach, and support to teachers and early childhood educators to ensure that students with learning challenges have access to learning experiences that meet their needs. Their primary focus is on working together with students, families, and schools to understand and overcome obstacles to learning in the classroom and at home. LPLC is located in Boise, Idaho, with satellite offices in Hailey and Caldwell. Infographic

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