Each year the Idaho Department of Education serves more than 300,000 students,[4] at 736 schools,[5] across 115 districts.

[6] The Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected official and chief executive officer of the Idaho Department of Education responsible for carrying out the policies, procedures, and duties authorized by law or established by the Board for all public elementary and secondary school matters.

The office of superintendent is established in the Idaho Constitution[7] Article IV, Section 1; "The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction, each of whom shall hold his office for four years beginning on the first Monday in January next after his election, commencing with those elected in the year 1946..." Before 1946, Idaho superintendents of public instruction were elected every two years.

[16] Office of the Superintendent Communications and Policy Operations Management and Educational Services The Idaho Department of Education implements policies, distributes funds, administers statewide assessments, licenses educators, and provides accountability data for all kindergarten through grade-12 public instruction.

[30] The schools in these rural areas are regularly challenged to find and retain effective teachers to meet the needs of all of their students, transport students quickly and safely to and from school, and respond to unexpected personnel or technology needs in order to deliver uninterrupted instruction.