Idaho

No Program

Idaho does not have a state funded preschool program as defined by this report. The Idaho Statehouse continues to shy away from state investments in state-funded preschool and early childhood education, but the state does dedicate TANF money to early education. In 2020, Idaho received a Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B–5) initial grant to conduct a statewide needs assessment on early childhood education. In addition, the state was able to conduct several activities to support early childhood educators, families, and communities which included outreach activities around the importance of quality child care, training on early learning screenings and referral resources, early literacy, trauma informed care, and school readiness. The state was also awarded a federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) three-year renewal grant for $10 million in December 2022. The renewal grant will continue to set the stage for investments in early childhood education while providing much needed supports to families and those who work with and care for young children throughout Idaho.

Idaho’s Early Learning eGuidelines cover a broad range of early learning domains, including: motor development, physical wellbeing, and health; approaches to learning and cognitive development; general knowledge; social-emotional development; and communication, language, and literacy. Approaches to learning, social and emotional development, and cognition domains include guidance through third grade while the other domains cover birth through kindergarten. The eGuidelines are aligned with the Idaho Core Standards, the Head Start Child Outcome Framework, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards. The Idaho State Head Start Collaboration Office, with the Idaho Department of Education, revised the Early Learning eGuidelines in 2019. 

The Idaho STARS project is a multi-agency collaboration and operates in all seven regions of the state. Idaho STARS encompasses four core function areas: Continuous Quality Improvement, Professional Development System (PDS), Operations and Policy, and Outreach. These core function areas include Idaho’s QRIS–Steps to Quality (STQ), Professional Development System Registry, Training Development, Program Assessment, Child Care Health Consultants, Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, State Licensing and Subsidy support, and Training and Academic Scholarships. Participation in Idaho STARS is voluntary.

A coalition of early childhood advocates continues to advance efforts for state investments in high-quality preschool options, and several polls have shown that close to 80% of respondents are supportive of state investments in early learning options for Idaho families. Idaho’s early learning supporters continue outreach and education for early learning and have formed Preschool the Idaho Way as an effort to galvanize and organize support. Optimistically, program work is currently underway to offer planning and implementation grants in key Idaho areas that will allow local communities to create and sustain preschools that are centered by a collaborative community effort to increase high-quality preschool seats in their area. 

The Idaho Head Start Association (IHSA) received a Voices for Healthy Kids advocacy grant from the American Heart Association in 2018, which provided resources to begin a campaign to pursue state funding for Head Start. Since then, IHSA has organized Head Start parents and staff to be ambassadors for Head Start with their local legislators and leaders. IHSA continues to be very active at the Capitol and with the Governor’s Office to find an avenue for investment in these most vulnerable young children and their families. There are a number of legislative champions from both parties who are partners in finding a path forward.

Idaho

Access

Some Head Start children may also be counted in state pre-K. Estimates children in special education not also enrolled in state pre-K or Head Start.
Total state pre-K enrollment	0
School districts that offer state program	NA
Income requirement	NA
Minimum hours of operation	NA
Operating schedule	NA
Special education enrollment, ages 3 and 4	1,963
Federally funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4	3,059
State-funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4	0

Resources

Pre-K programs may receive additional funds from federal or local sources that are not included in this figure. K–12 expenditures include capital spending as well as current operating expenditures. Head Start per-child spending includes funding only for 3- and 4-year-olds.