Just days before the House Education Committee prepares to make what could be the most important decision of this session—whether to give a green light to HB 222, the career ladder/tiered certification bill sponsored by Rep. Reed DeMordaunt (R-Eagle) and Sen. Dean Mortimer (R-Idaho Falls)—Idaho Education News is reporting that the bill may be in serious trouble.
According to reporter Clark Corbin, some of the more fiscally conservative members on the panel are questioning if the fiscal note is accurate and whether Idaho can afford the plan moving forward.
It appears that the Governor is also concerned about the fate of the legislation. He weighed in on the debate today by penning an Op Ed also posted on Idaho Education News. He reaffirmed his commitment to the career ladder, stating that the proposal will provide significant salary allocations to school districts and that our state’s competitiveness requires that we adopt this new proposal so that we can recruit and retain the best teachers.
Career Ladder Hearing Set for Tuesday
House Education Committee members are set to take public testimony on HB 222 on Tuesday, March 10th. The hearing will begin at 8 AM in EW42. Anyone who is interested in sharing their concerns about the legislation is encouraged to attend.
Members of the public who are unable to attend are urged to email committee members from your home email address. The most effective messages identify specific concerns, provide personal examples and offer a solution.
You can learn more about the tiered certification portion of the bill in the March 2nd Hotline. March 3rd’s Hotline focuses on the base salary allocation portion of the model, and Wednesday, March 4th’s Hotline message outlines the leadership and master teacher premiums. Finally, the March 5th Hotline provides a pro/con approach to many of the concerns that members have raised about the legislation.
IEA Compiles Up-to-Date Information on Career Ladder
We have devoted a page on the IEA website to the career ladder issue. Check out the audio versions of radio interviews IEA President Penni Cyr has conducted with local media, new stories, and other articles about this important topic.
