The big news: The Idaho State Board of Education has pushed the application deadline for the Rural and Underserved Educator Incentive Program (RUEIP) from Sept. 30 to Oct. 30. Applicants who are accepted into the program will join Cohort 5.
Why it matters: The program is designed to recruit and keep teachers in Idaho’s rural and underserved schools.
How it works: Participants can receive up to $12,000 over four years through federal student loan repayment and reimbursement of qualifying educational expenses.
• Year 1: $1,500
• Year 2: $2,500
• Year 3: $3,500
• Year 4: $4,500
The fine print: Payments are subject to annual appropriations and continued program eligibility, so the full amount isn’t guaranteed.
Who qualifies?: The program is open to:
• Full-time (1.0 FTE) instructional or pupil service staff. Administrators are not eligible.
• A standard (five-year renewable) Idaho certificate
• A job at an eligible rural and/or underserved Idaho public school or public charter school
• Qualifying federal student loan debt or eligible education expenses
What they’re saying: “Recruiting and keeping great teachers in our rural and underserved communities is one of the most important things we can do for Idaho students, and this program is a meaningful tool to make that happen,” Idaho State Board of Education Executive Director Jennifer White said. “We want to make sure every eligible educator has the chance to apply. Many may be surprised to learn they qualify, so we encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible to take a closer look before the new deadline.”
Apply now: Complete program information, eligibility requirements and application instructions are now on the Idaho State Board of Education website.
