IDEAS originated in Education Queensland's school reform proposals of the mid 1990s. At that time research into successful school reform undertaken through the University of Wisconsin-Madison was used by the University of Southern Queensland's Leadership Research Institute to create the Research-based Framework for Enhancing School Outcomes.
 
During trialling of the framework in 1997, and exploration in nationwide school contexts, the ideas process and the concept of parallel leadership were developed. Thus, IDEAS is a unique Queensland creation and stems from a fruitful university-schools partnership.
 
From 1998 to 2000, IDEAS was employed in forty-nine state schools (including Goondiwindi State High School, Mackay North State High School, Woorabinda State School, Oakleigh State School, Maryborough Special School and a cluster of schools in Murrumba District). Their experiences were used to refine the core ideas processes and concepts. In 2001 schools' focus has been toward aligning IDEAS actions with QSE 2010, and articulating pedagogy appropriate and relevant for their school community.
 
IDEAS is now a comprehensive approach to school revitalisation that, more than ever, values the work and professionalism of teachers in Queensland state schools.
 
A more comprehensive background and explanation is presented in the IDEAS PowerPoint presentation.