Jennifer Swindell

Managing editor and CEO Jennifer Swindell founded Idaho Education News in 2013. She has led the online news platform as it has grown in readership and engagement every year, reaching over two million pageviews a year. Jennifer has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. She also has served as a public information officer for Idaho schools and as a communication director at Boise State University. She can be reached at [email protected].

EdNews’ new website provides transparency on progress towards Idaho’s education goals

The purpose of the new site is to help educators, parents, lawmakers and taxpayers better understand the expectations and goals of those who lead Idaho’s public education system.

100% Graduation Rates

These districts and charters graduated all of their seniors. Most of these districts and charters have enrollments of less than 30 high school seniors.

Total Student Absences

This is the average number of students who were absent each day during the 2018-19 school year. The data was pulled from the State Department of Education website and calculated by subtracting Average Daily Attendance (ADA) from total enrollment.

Top Average Teacher Salaries

The average teacher salaries are calculated by dividing the total instructional salaries by the number of teachers from each school district for the 2018-19 school year. The data is submitted by school districts and was pulled from the State Department of Education website.

Top Superintendent Salaries

These salaries from the 2018-19 school year were reported by districts to the State Department of Education. These are base salaries and do not include extra perks. [numbers_source file=”http://www.idahoednews.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Supt.-Salaries_2017-2018_Numbers.xlsx” link_text=”2018 Superintendent Salaries”]

Top Charter Administrator Salaries

These salaries from the 2018-19 school year were reported by charters to the State Department of Education. These are base salaries and do not include extra perks. [numbers_source file=”http://www.idahoednews.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Charter-Salaries_2017-2018_Numbers.xlsx” link_text=”2017 Charter Salaries”]

Teacher Work Days

This is the average number of days teachers were contracted to work during the 2018-19 school year. Contract days were reported by districts and charters to the State Department of Education. This is the average of the individual reports.

Teachers in Idaho

This calculation is the total of full and part-time instructional staff members from the 2018-19 school year. [numbers_source file=”http://www.idahoednews.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Fun-Facts_2018.xlsx” link_text=”2018 Fun Facts”]

Average Teacher Salary

This calculation uses only the base salary of instructional staff members from the 2018-19 school year. The number includes teachers in districts and charters.

Teacher Performance

Districts are required to report teacher performance data to the State Department of Education. Teachers are rated on a four-numbered scale: 1 (unsatisfactory), 2 (needs improvement), 3 (proficient) and 4 (distinguished). Most teachers in Idaho earned a 3 or proficient mark during the 2018-19 school year.