33-1207A. TEACHER PREPARATION. (1) Higher Education Institutions. The state board shall review teacher preparation programs at the institutions of higher education under its supervision and shall assure that the course offerings and graduation requirements are consistent with the state board-approved, research-based "Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Plan." To ensure compliance with this requirement, the board may allocate funds, subject to appropriation, to the higher education institutions that have teacher preparation programs.

The higher education institutions shall be responsible for the preservice assessment measures for all kindergarten through grade 12 teacher preparation programs. The assessment must include a demonstration of teaching skills and knowledge congruent with current research on best reading practices. The assessment may consist of multiple measures, in alignment with best practices, for the demonstration of these skills. Each institution shall report annually to the state board of education the number of preservice teachers who have passed the assessment. The state board of education shall then compile the statewide results and report to the legislature and the governor.

(2) For all Idaho teachers working on interim certificates, alternate routes or coming from out of state, completion of a state-approved reading instruction course shall be a onetime requirement for full certification.

(3) The board of trustees of every school district shall include, in its plan for in-service training, coursework covering reading skills development, including diagnostic tools to review and adjust instruction continuously, and the ability to identify students who need special help in reading. The district plan for in-service training in reading skills shall be submitted to the state department of education for review and approval, in a format specified by the department.

(4) A board-approved nontraditional educator preparation program that has a contract with a local education agency or consortium thereof to recruit, select, train, and retain teachers to teach in public schools that struggle to recruit and retain teachers may obtain funding from the state department of education, subject to appropriation or other available funds, provided that the program shall match no less than one hundred percent (100%) of any cost to the state for implementation. The board-approved program must have a documented history of recruiting, training, and retaining high-quality teachers who achieve above-average academic growth from students in Idaho and other states. The nontraditional educator preparation program may apply to the state department of education for available funding at the time one (1) or more teachers recruited by the program enters into an employment contract with a local education agency (LEA). The amount of funding per teacher provided by the department to the program shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of each teacher’s annual salary for each year the program is providing services in support of the teacher. Such funding is limited to two (2) academic years per teacher. In order for the program to obtain funding from the department:

(a) The program and the LEA shall provide to the department verification of each teacher’s fulfillment of the annual employment contract; and

(b) The program and the LEA shall provide verification that the LEA is providing funding to the program for recruiting and training each teacher in an amount equal to at least ten percent (10%) of the amount the department is providing to the program.

History:

[33-1207A, added 1999, ch. 362, sec. 1, p. 957; am. 2000, ch. 269, sec. 1, p. 769; am. 2002, ch. 71, sec. 1, p. 157; am. 2010, ch. 309, sec. 1, p. 828; am. 2017, ch. 78, sec. 1, p. 218; am. 2019, ch. 259, sec. 1, p. 768.]