Educating Idaho's workforce

Gov. Butch Otter has come out with a list of critical legislative priorities that will bolster public education for Idaho students and prepare them for the 21st century workforce. A few serious recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Education, Idaho Business for Education, and other advocates transpired into legislation, received overwhelming support and became law this past year.

Last session, the Legislature funded annual strategic planning in each school district including public charter schools, career ladder/teacher pay legislation for teachers, and directed the Idaho Department of Education to facilitate the development of an incubator program shifting to a system where students advance based upon content mastery, rather than seat-time requirements. Another bill signed into law last year promotes the expansion of student engagement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) within Idaho schools and passed the House and Senate with large margins.

In early February, the House passed legislation to fund a computer science initiative in the public school classrooms which covers professional development for those teaching computer science, grants for schools and teachers, instructional resources, computer science learning standards and more in preparation of the 2017-2018 school year. The bill was then sent to the Senate for consideration, where it also was approved.

After looking at these bills, one thing became blatantly clear. North Idaho has a small handful of legislators who consistently vote against education or are absent when important education bills come to the floor. Most often, these legislators are clearly in the minority. Here’s how your North Idaho legislators stack up to their colleagues throughout the state:

For more details about the intent of the law or the funding go to: https://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2016/legIndex.htm