Vision Statement:
Building strong foundations in literacy—every child, every school, every classroom.
Mission Statement:
The Idaho SMART Project (Striving to Meet Achievement in Reading Together) is our state’s comprehensive K–3 literacy initiative. Grounded in the Science of Reading and anchored in Idaho’s literacy laws, the project reflects Idaho’s commitment to ensuring that every child reads proficiently by the end of third grade. SMART brings administrators, instructional coaches, educators, and school staff into a shared learning journey—building common language, deepening knowledge, and learning how to implement evidence-based instruction in the foundational early literacy skills every child needs to become a confident and capable reader.
Three SMART Pathways
- Leadership Pathway – Administrators work with a dedicated Leadership Coach to learn about the Science of Reading and the systems and structures needed to sustain effective early literacy instruction. They also participate in monthly communities of practice with their peers to problem-solve and share strategies that drive student success.
- District/Building Coach Pathway – Instructional coaches strengthen their knowledge of how to coach classroom teachers in evidence-based reading practices. They receive specialized training, access resources, and participate in communities of practice that build their skills and help sustain effective literacy instruction across schools.
- Educator Pathway – Educators and school staff engage in book studies and professional learning while receiving collaborative one-on-one coaching from a SMART Coach. They participate in the full coaching cycle, with ongoing collaboration and support to apply evidence-based instruction in the classroom and ensure students build the foundational skills needed to become proficient, confident readers.
Application Update
Idaho SMART applications for all pathways are now closed. Registration for the 2026–2027 school year will open in April 2026.