Idaho Board of Education optimistic about 2020 goal

COEUR d'ALENE — As it prepares to meet this week, the Idaho State Board of Education remains optimistic that 60 percent of Idaho's young adults will have either a college degree or certificate by 2020.

The board set the goal in 2010. However, six years later, only 40 percent of Idahoans between the ages of 25 and 34 have a post-secondary degree or certificate. The statistic has also been incrementally decreasing since 2012 — it's down 2 percentage points from that year.

Board spokesman Blake Youde says board members remain optimistic and on Wednesday and Thursday will be considering the goal in "every action they take."

"It's a very lofty goal. I think it's going to be a hard one to achieve," Youde said.

Mark Browning, vice president of community relations and marketing at North Idaho College, told The Press Tuesday that getting to 60 percent by 2020 does not matter to him personally. What is more important, he added, is getting even one more person to graduate or earn a certificate.

"That's a better opportunity for them to have a complete and full life, to provide for their family, and to give back to our community," Browning said.

Having a better-educated citizenry translates to a more well-rounded community, which Browning said should be the true goal.

"The pragmatic part of you says 'No, we are not going to make it (to 60 percent)," he added. "But what I hold on to is that there is great value in trying to get there — any gains we make will be positive for our region and for the state."

Idaho's workforce demand will exceed that goal in 2020. According to a national report released by Georgetown University, 68 percent of Idaho's jobs will require a post-secondary degree or certificate.

"There is a documented need and that need is always going to be there," Youde said. "The goal gives us a sense of urgency for a goal that our state has and will have in 2020 and beyond that."

In other words, Idaho's need for an educated workforce will continue to rise, even if Idaho doesn't meet its 2020 goal.

Here are the ways the state education board intends on meeting Idaho's workforce needs by 2020:

Streamlining college applications, residency

Last year, the board implemented a program that sends qualifying seniors a letter of acceptance to all eight of Idaho's colleges and universities rather than wait for application results. The Statehouse passed a separate measure this year that ensures all students who graduate from an accredited Idaho High School will be able to obtain in-state tuition for the following six years after graduating, even if they move to another state and then return.

Controlling tuition costs

Shortly after the Statehouse adjourned, Gov. Butch Otter announced Idaho State University would be implementing a pilot program to keep tuition rates the same for all four years of college. It's similar to a statewide measure that was backed by Otter, but killed in the Legislature this session. This week's board meeting will vote to approve ISU's tuition program and will also discuss the tuition and fees increases of Idaho's other 4-year post-secondary institutions, which currently hover between $6,000 and $7,000 a year.

Scholarships and financial aid

The Legislature this year approved a measure that doubles the Opportunity Scholarship Fund, bringing the total scholarship amount from $5 million to $10 million. The need- and merit-based scholarship grants high school students up to $3,000 per year, depending on how much a family and Pell Grants contribute.

The Legislature also approved a measure that would give scholarships to Idaho students who earn college credit in high school. It became law without Otter's signature. Otter said the measure incentivizes those students who are already college-bound, but misses the target student population who are critical in meeting the state's 60 percent objective.