NAMPA -- Idaho has won a big grant worth millions to fuel the charter school movement in the state.

At the Idaho Arts Charter School in Nampa, State Schools Superintendent Tom Luna accepted the first installment on the grant -- $3.4 million. 

Idaho is one of only five states to get the money from the U.S. Department of Education.

"We need more charter schools of high quality, we don't just need more charter schools. So, Idaho has a real focus on student achievement and high quality charter schools and sharing best practices," said Doug Mesecar, U.S. Department of Education.

That focus is what helped Idaho win the grant, which will be worth $6 million over the next three years. The money will be used to help new charter schools get started.

Right now, there are 31 charter schools in Idaho and another 15 in the process of trying to open.