We empower, invest in, and support educational leaders who take risks and put children first.
LET LEARNING GROW.
EMPOWER
We empower educational leaders in the Gem State by providing one- or two-year fellowships to those who take risks and put children first.
INVEST
In partnership with the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation, Bluum serves as a funding intermediary and local champion for supporting entrepreneurial education ventures.
SUPPORT & IMPROVE
Bluum provides partner schools with additional services and technical assistance. Our team can help elevate the business of running a school by reviewing financial infrastructure and identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement.
DISCOVER & INFORM
Bluum has become a go-to resource on education research and innovation. We aim to share the work of Idaho’s high performing schools and outstanding educators. Our hope is that it can become a national model for helping all children reach their fullest potential.
$32,969,806
FEDERAL CHARTER SCHOOLS PROGRAM INVESTMENT
19,545
TOTAL NEW SCHOOL SEATS CREATED
38
TOTAL IDAHO SCHOOLS SUPPORTED
$106,777,342
TOTAL PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT
Stories
When Jennifer Ribordy joined Bluum in 2020 as the organization’s lone special education staffer supporting about 20 Idaho charter schools, she quickly realized the field had a problem that went deeper than burnout. “Seventy percent of special ed directors currently working have less than five years’ experience in that role,” she said, citing a West Ed study. “When you’re talking about a field that is so compliance heavy, so complicated, so legally precarious, having folks in that role that don’t stay longer than five years is really problematic.” The reasons are layered: resource shortages, complex laws, tense relationships with families, and small schools that can’t afford to split compliance work from leadership. Most directors are promoted by “baptism by fire”—a strong teacher suddenly asked to lead.
Andy Horning wasn’t looking for another school. As head of school at the K-12 North Star Charter School in Eagle, Idaho, he had his hands full with 1,000 students crammed into a single building. His high schoolers shared hallways with sixth graders, competed for gym time with elementary students, and never quite felt like they were in high school. Then the leaders of Rolling Hills Public Charter School called. They had an unexpected proposal. Their K-8 school five miles away in Eagle was losing enrollment. Built for 250, it now held 178. The director, Tara Handy, was retiring. Rather than watch the school spiral toward closure, they wondered: What if North Star absorbed Rolling Hills? Horning walked through Rolling Hills’ empty cafeteria last February, calculating possibilities.
Data in education matters. It can help state leaders make decisions as to what works and what doesn’t in public policy. It can help district and charter network leaders see what’s working in their schools and what might need improvement or replacement. Principals deserve information that helps support students, families, and educators while making informed decisions about how to best utilize resources. Finally, data can help parents and taxpayers better understand what’s happening in their schools and with their children.
Hispanic Parents Talk About Schools & Life in Idaho
Idaho's Communities of Excellence Charter School Grant
Idaho Education by the Numbers
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