SB 105 includes directives on what metrics are to be submitted to the State Department of Education by local districts, and adds language that directly ties the performance criteria to movement on the Career Ladder. As Idaho Education News reports, the requited metrics include:
- The overall rating a teacher earns on his or her annual evaluation. In order to move up the career ladder, and earn a raise in the process, educators must earn an overall score of “proficient” and avoid receiving any individual scores of “unsatisfactory.”
- Documentation as to whether a majority of a teacher’s students met their measurable achievement goals or student success indicator targets.
- Documentation of whether a teacher seeking to move from the residency to the professional rungs of the career ladder has an individual professional learning plan.
The bill has already passed the Senate. It now goes to the full House for final approval.
Science Standards Up for Vote in House Ed Thursday
The proposed science standards for Idaho that we wrote about in Wednesday’s Hotline will be in front of the House Education Committee for a vote Thursday at 9:00 AM. Idaho last updated its science standards in 2001. The standards up for vote have been somewhat revised for those that were rejected by the legislature last year. Listen to the House Education Committee meeting here.
IEA Participates in Teacher Pipeline Workgroup Meeting
In response to the troubling number of unfilled or hard-to-fill teaching positions in Idaho, the state has convened a workgroup to study the teacher shortage and look at possible solutions. Meeting for the first time Wednesday at Boise State University, the attendees included IEA members Sue Darden and Melyssa Ferro, as well as IEA Interim Executive Director Sue Wigdorski. IEA President Penni Cyr and member Mary Anne McGrory will also serve on the workgroup. The group was convened by the Idaho State Department of Education and the initial meeting was facilitated by Christina Linder, Educator Effective Program Manager for the Idaho State Board of Education.
Ferro noted that having two classroom teachers in the group discussing causes and effects of the teacher shortage represented some progress, but admonished that teacher voices need to be included even more on issues that impact students and academic development. “When it comes to education policy, teachers don’t feel listened to by the legislature,” she said. “In Idaho, this has not been a profession where we are treated as professionals. Give us back ownership of our profession and our classrooms, Ferro stressed.
The workgroup went into breakout sessions during the afternoon to discuss strategies for addressing the teacher shortage in four sub-categories: recruitment, retention, certification, and technical needs. The intention is for the workgroup to have a list of recommendations developed by June that will be submitted to the State Board of Education.
Part of the Teacher Pipeline Workgroup: IEA Interim Executive Director Sue Wigdorski, school principal Diane Hardin, and IEA teacher-members Sue Darden and Melyssa Ferro
IEA Response to DeVos Confirmation Draws Media Coverage
Concern over the potentially harmful effects of Betsy DeVos’ confirmation as Education Secretary led the IEA to issue a statement critical of the Senate’s 51-50 vote for approval. Several media outlets picked up portions of the statement or reached out to the IEA for additional comment. Some of that coverage is linked below.
