Updated at 1:47 p.m. with more information about the renewal process and ongoing vendor costs.

After a lengthy and delayed effort to renew and possibly revamp Idaho’s early literacy exam, the Idaho Department of Education announced it would continue on with the same exam vendor, Istation, which is now called Amira Learning. 

The announcement came after a bumpy renewal process that had to be restarted in August 2024, and after a months-long delay in 2023 exam results because of an Istation technical glitch. 

Idaho students in kindergarten through third grades take the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) each fall and spring. The exam has become an important measure of early literacy, and is high-stakes for schools — results are tied to literacy funding. 

State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield said in a press release that a 2024 merger between Istation and Amira Learning will improve the vendor’s offerings, providing “our classrooms the consistency and proven effectiveness of the current IRI test along with updates and improvements that align with the changing needs of Idaho’s students.”

The current version of the IRI will remain in place this school year. The IDE will provide more information on implementation timelines in coming months. 

The IDE touted new features of the updated test, including:

• Dyslexia identification and assessment: Elements that will “assist instructors in effectively identifying and assessing students with dyslexia,” such as a section of the test that measures reading processing speed.
• Reading fluency: A fluency section that “ensures students have the necessary skills for real-world reading and writing.”

“Equipping educators to address dyslexia has been an ongoing priority for the department, and earlier identification means more students will benefit from appropriate interventions and assistance,” Critchfield said. “The updated IRI will allow for more accurate identification of students who may be struggling.”

The new IRI contract is for up to five years. The IDE selected Istation after receiving feedback from nearly 2,000 stakeholders and then initiating a 2024 request for proposals. Four vendors submitted proposals, including Istation/Amira Learning, Renaissance, Curriculum Associates and EPS Learning. Istation/Amira Learning’s proposal was the only one the met the minimum mandatory requirements and “therefore was the only proposal scored,” according to Maggie Reynolds, a public information officer for the IDE. 

Istation has been the state’s IRI vendor since 2016, when it was the lowest bidder. In the 2017-2018 school year, Istation received $64,350 to pilot the test. But costs rose over time, and by 2023-2024, the cost of the exam and related services had reached $724,000. 

This school year is considered a pilot year, so Istation/Amira Learning will not receive any funds. But Istation/Amira Learning will be paid $650,000 per year, starting next school year “any beyond,” according to Reynolds.