The Statewide Study on Education and the Economy, an intensive survey about Idaho education conducted by Palo Alto-based tech giant Hewlett-Packard and Idaho Business for Education reveals mental health and non-cognitive skills are a major concern for educators, parents and potential employers.

Gus Schmedlen, HP's vice president of worldwide education, said the prevalence of mental health problems is surprising and a troubling trend.

Major findings of the study, which was released Thursday during a news conference at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, show mental health is a major issue for students suffering from it and draws needed resources. 

"We were not prepared for how much people wanted to talk about it or how many stories there were," Schmedlen said. "It’s something that we think the state should urgently address."

Another surprise: The emphasis on skills such as reasoning, coping, critical thinking and problem solving — abilities highly valued by employers.  

"Businesses were the ones that said, 'We want students who can communicate and collaborate and be personally responsible,' instead of [concentrating only on] basic job skills," Schmedlen said. "I think it’s a big recognition that jobs are changing. The future is changing."

The statewide study, conducted pro bono, surveyed almost 2,000 people across Idaho, ranging from fourth-graders to C-suite executives. Work began last summer, but the study intensified in January. The survey’s four cohorts were school leaders, parents, teachers and businesses.

"This is the very first time they’ve done a study like this in the United States," Idaho Business for Education CEO Rod Gramer said.

The study concluded that helping students develop personally and intellectually should be a main focus of K-12 education, a thrust to be balanced with job and skills training.

Idaho has several key reasons to improve education: to attract investment, to empower entrepreneurship, and to encourage personal self-sufficiency and engagement, the study found.

Schmedlen said HP took on the study because it has roots in Idaho and has been doing business in the Gem State since the 1970s.

"We're a stakeholder in the future of Idaho," he said.

Idaho Business for Education is a nonprofit organization of more than 200 business leaders from across the state committed to transforming Idaho’s education system. Its mission is for Idaho to achieve the State Board of Education’s goal that 60 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds will have some form of post-secondary degree by 2025.

The full report, with localized regional findings, will be published in August.