October 19, 2000

Idaho Ranked 13th Nationally for Digital Technology Progress; Earns 8th Place Rating for IT Applications in Higher Education.

BOISE, ID - The State of Idaho has been recognized for its overall progress in utilizing information technology to better serve Idaho citizens as part of an extensive, yearlong survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government, in conjunction with the Progress and Freedom Foundation and Government Technology Magazine.

The "Digital States Survey" was a four-part study exploring eight areas of technology application in all 50 states. Idaho was ranked 13th in the nation for its progress in all four categories, which included electronic commerce, taxation/revenue; social services, law enforcement and the courts; digital democracy, management/administration; higher education and K-12 education.

Results of the final installment of the Survey, Part IV, focusing on states' utilization of technology in Higher Education and K-12 Education, have also been announced by the Center for Digital Government in Sacramento, Ca.

Idaho ranked 8th in the nation along with other states in the Higher Education category where its colleges and universities were evaluated on their use of the Internet for on-line access to administrative functions, curriculum needs and distance learning. Joining Idaho with an 8th place ranking with 86.7 out of a total of 100 points, were the states of Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and New Jersey.

In the category of K-12 Education, Idaho was ranked 17th nationally along with Hawaii, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Alaska with 77.8 points. This portion of the category examined how states required technology training as part of teacher education, the percentage of students having high-speed access to online learning resources, and the state's support and encouragement of innovative uses of technology.

Pam Ahrens, Chairman of the Information Technology Resource Management Council (ITRMC) responsible for statewide strategic IT development and implementation, accepted award recognition for Idaho's placement in the national survey at a recent conference of the National Association of Information Resource Executives (NASIRE) held in Baltimore, Md.

Idaho earned an overall average score of 70 points this year as a result of top-ten performances in the four categories of Electronic Commerce and Business Regulation, (tied for 9th place with Michigan); Digital Democracy, (tied for 3rd place with Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin); and for its scoring in the Higher Education portion.

When Idaho first began its participation in the nationwide Survey in 1998, it was ranked 32nd for its overall utilization of information technologies in similar categories.

"We are extremely pleased with the progress the State is making in effectively using technology to make government more accessible and responsive to our Idaho citizens," Ahrens stated. She acknowledged the efforts over the past several years by the ITRMC, working closely with state agencies, to adopt statewide IT standards and policies advancing the state's effective investment in and use of information technology.

This past May, the State of Idaho introduced its official website accessidaho.org which features search and navigation functions to help someone unfamiliar with government easily find on-line information or services. Ahrens explained that Access Idaho is the electronic front door to Idaho government on-line and an integral component of the state's e-government strategies.