♦ Bluum · Boise, Idaho
History &
Timeline
A decade of cultivating great leaders and innovative schools — traced year by year, from a ten-year promise to tens of thousands of Idaho classroom seats.
2013
Where it starts
21,690
School seats created
54
Schools in the portfolio
$132.2M
Investment secured
2025
Bluum at 10
Ten years of Bluum means ten years of helping Idaho educators turn bold ideas into opportunities for students and families. In Bluum at 10, journalist Alan Gottlieb explores the people, partnerships, and decisions behind our first decade, drawing on interviews with more than 30 education leaders and partners. Through ten key themes, the report shares what we’ve learned, the challenges ahead, and our continued commitment to expanding access to high-quality schools across Idaho.
2023 and Beyond
Here to Stay
The success of Idaho’s Hispanic families is entwined with the success of the state—be it in the economic, social, or educational realm. The findings from this research study can help Idaho’s leaders better design policies in each of these areas.
This study, Here to Stay, builds on the insights from a 2016 study, Hispanic Parents Speak Out, which was conducted on behalf of Bluum by the same research team. One goal of this report is to give leaders an opportunity to “hear” Hispanic parents talk about their lives in Idaho, about their experiences with the public schools, and about the goals they have for their children. If we’ve done our job right in capturing their voices, then future policies and practices may do a better job of meeting the needs of Hispanic parents and children in Idaho.
2023
Building on
Success for
Future Excellence
Idaho’s Building on Success consortium led by Bluum is awarded a $25 million federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant. To date, 25 Idaho public charter schools statewide have received $22 million in CSP grants to start, expand or replicate high-quality public charter schools, especially for rural and educationally
disadvantaged students.
2022
Parents’ Guide:
Tips for
Choosing a
School
Idaho’s public charter school enrollment stands at 29,204 students. Bluum releases the updated version of its Parents’ Guide: Tips for Choosing a School in Idaho. The state of Idaho funds all-day kindergarten for all public district and public charter schools.
2021
Opening of New
Public Charter
Schools
Four Idaho communities celebrated the opening of new
public charter schools, and the 1,456 new school seats they represent for Gem State children and families – Alturas Preparatory Academy in Idaho Falls, Cardinal Academy in Boise, Gem Prep: Meridian North, and RISE Charter School in Kimberly.
In partnership with the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation, Bluum launches a $1.8 million all-day kindergarten pilot for 17 Idaho schools. In collaboration with the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Bluum releases Idaho’s Education Earnings Gap report authored by John V. Winters, PhD.
2020
Bluum at Five
Bluum’s work between 2015 and 2020 has delivered
more than 10,600 promised new, high-quality seats for
children in a growing portfolio of 25 high-performing
schools.
2019
New Schools Seats Created
1,108 students started the school year off in new or expanded schools supported by Bluum. These included Compass Public Charter School in Meridian, Forge International School in Middleton Elevate Academy in Caldwell, Treasure Valley Classical Academy in Fruitland, and Gem Prep Pocatello. When these schools reach full enrollment by 2025, that will add up to a lot of learning – 2,274 new school seats.
2,274
seats at full enrollment
2018
Communities of
Excellence
Idaho’s Communities of Excellence consortium led by Bluum is awarded a $22 million federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant. To date, 25 Idaho public charter schools statewide have received $19.43 million in CSP grants to start, expand or replicate high-quality public charter schools, especially for rural and educationally disadvantaged students.
2016
Idaho New School
Fellowship
Launched the Idaho New School Fellowship. It has served as the talent pipeline for many of the top charter schools launched in the Gem State since 2016. To date, $2,795,000 has been invested in 23 new school fellows, and collectively they have opened or will open 13 schools across the state.
2015
Bluum Begins
Bluum is officially launched as a stand-alone Boise-based education nonprofit committed to “ensuring Idaho’s children reach their fullest potential by cultivating great leaders and innovative schools.”
2013
“20 in 10” Campaign Launched
The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation launch their “20 in 10” campaign to create 20,000 new, high-quality charter school seats in 10 years. Terry Ryan is recruited from Ohio to lead the new school effort, and Building Hope is brought in at the same time to help solve Idaho’s charter school facility financing challenges. Idaho’s public charter enrollment stands at 18,782 seats.
18,782
charter seats in Idaho