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702 W. Idaho Street, Suite 600 - Boise, Idaho 83702

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BLUUM

Bluum’s
History & Timeline

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.