SBOE Says Idaho Needs 60 Percent Grads By 2020

The State Board of Education says Idaho is far from where it needs to be when it comes to college graduates, and the SBOE vice president came to Pocatello to talk about the problem.

VP Ken Edmunds said there’s one big overriding goal for higher ed statewide.

The goal is to have 60 percent of Idahoans with something beyond a high school diploma by 2020.

“The main reason is because we want to stay competitive. For other countries we used to be the leader in all aspects, every measurement we used to be the leader. Now we’re starting to lag behind,? Edmunds said.

The SBOE says Idaho will need to more than triple the number of students getting bachelor’s degrees.

Edmunds said the bar is set very high for Idaho to reach where it needs to be and big changes need to happen.

“The one thing we have to do better, first we have to convince our young people that its worth going on to higher education. We’re going to have to find a way to solve the financial problems they face. And we’re going to have to keep them in the system once they get there,? Edmunds said.

Much of the state board is made up of businessmen and women, and Edmunds said education could learn a little from business.

“Education, even though we don’t want it to be dollar-driven, dollars are obviously a factor because there is so little to go around these days,? Edmunds said.