Idaho’s legislative Office of Performance Evaluations recently issued an evaluation report on reducing barriers to postsecondary education. The report discusses access, readiness, and affordability as the three most common barriers. The State Board of Education has recently set a goal that 60 percent of Idahoans between ages 25 and 34 will have a college degree or a certificate by the year 2020. However, the board does not have a way to accurately know where the state stands with respect to this goal. The report recommends that the board establish an accurate baseline of Idaho’s current levels of educational attainment and develop specific measures to monitor progress toward achieving its 60 percent goal. The report contends that efforts to reduce barriers will fall short in achieving the intended purpose if students are unable to find relevant employment upon completing their postsecondary education. Despite a multitude of efforts, Idaho lacks a comprehensive, statewide strategy to clearly link educational outcomes with employment needs.#Postsecondaryeducation #AssessmentinHigherEducation #OPEIDAHO #Prek-12EducationalEvaluation #GovernmentEvaluation