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Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation is giving $25 million to Idaho to help better track student achievement and fulfill its cash commitment to the Idaho Education Network. The investment announced Wednesday includes $21 million to the Idaho Department of Education to pay for software designed to improve the performance of students and teachers. The software is designed and distributed by SchoolNet Inc., a private New York company. Albertson Foundation Executive Director Jamie MacMillan says the SchoolNet tool will improve the way schools monitor real-time student progress and teacher effectiveness in a consistent and timely manner. The grant also covers the remainder of the foundation's $6 million pledge toward the $60 million cost for installing broadband infrastructure statewide for the IEN. The network links public schools, universities and businesses.
The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation has announced it’ll put up to $20 million into a big new push to try to get Idaho kids to go on to higher education after high school. That’s a goal that was put front and center by Gov. Butch Otter and a new Education Alliance last week, but that alliance’s new strategy lacked any funding. Here’s what the Albertson Foundation is planning: $11 million in targeted, statewide scholarships “to help Idaho improve college opportunities and increase post-secondary participation and completion”; $6 million to the Idaho Education Network to “increase access to relevant data and increase equal educational opportunities to Idaho stakeholders statewide”; and up to $3 million for an awareness campaign about opportunities beyond high school and for “KnowHow2Go Idaho,” a “support and guidance program that helps turn college dreams into action-oriented goals.”
The foundation’s initiative was praised today by Otter, state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna and state Board of Education President Paul Agidius. Idaho ranks 43rd in the nation for students going on to complete a degree, the foundation said. Already, commercials are airing on TV in Idaho encouraging students to continue their education. Jamie MacMillan, executive director of the foundation, said the initiative “combines a thought-provoking messaging and advertising campaign that we hope will capture the attention of students, parents, government, business and other important stakeholders. We are committed to raising awareness and, even more importantly, to converting that awareness into action. We need to better prepare and provide opportunities for Idaho’s kids to GO ON - go on to high-quality jobs; go on to technical training; go on to post-secondary institutions - if we want them to GO ON to a better life.”
The Albertson Foundation is a private family foundation formed by the founders of the Albertson’s grocery chain, dedicated to improving education in Idaho.
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