• New teachers will be placed on a one- or two-year rolling contract, rather than attaining tenure.
  • Any layoff decisions are no longer based on how long a teacher has taught.
  • School district salary negotiations are being held in open public meetings.
  • Negotiations between the school board and teachers are limited to salaries and benefits, rather than also including things like the bell schedule, the school calendar, district hiring practices, etc.
  • The statewide Technology Task Force is being formed to study and develop plans for the implementation of the one-to-one mobile computing device ratio in high schools.
  • Building principals now have the authority to select incoming staff for their school.
  • School districts will be posting their annual budgets and master agreements online for the public.
  • The State Board of Education will be considering the adoption of an online course requirement for the Class of 2016.

Changes You’ll See in the 2011-2012 School Year

  • School districts will have greater flexibility with the funding they receive from the state.
  • Students completing the state high school graduation requirements before their senior year will be able to take dual credit courses paid for by the state.
  • Teachers pay for education credits earned last year will be restored on the grid. The salary grid will be funded going forward. It was previously frozen for two years.
  • The minimum teacher salary will increase to $30,000, and the state has created a mechanism to increase the minimum salary in the future.
  • Districts will receive more funding to hire math and science teachers.
  • A Fiscal Report Card for every school district and public charter school will be posted on the State Department of Education’s website.
  • The first phase of advanced technology will be delivered to Idaho classrooms statewide along with professional development for classroom teachers.
  • All Idaho high school juniors will take a college entrance exam, such as the SAT, ACT, or Compass, paid for by the state.

Changes You’ll See in the 2012-2013 School Year

  • Teachers will begin to receive pay-for-performance bonuses in addition to their base salary if the entire school is eligible for schoolwide bonuses based on student academic growth or overall achievement.
  • High school teachers will receive mobile computing devices.
  • High school teachers will receive professional development on how to use the mobile computing devices to aid student learning.
  • For the second year, Idaho classrooms will receive advanced technology and the necessary professional development for teachers.
  • School districts will implement new high school graduation requirements for students to take three years of math, three years of science, complete a senior project, and take a college entrance exam before their senior year.
  • The Idaho Education Network will provide high-speed broadband internet capability and virtual education access and equipment to every Idaho high school.
  • Student achievement will be 50% of teacher and administrator performance evaluations.
  • Parent input will be included in teacher and principal performance evaluations.

Changes You’ll See in the 2013-2014 School Year

  • Rigorous, college- and career-ready standards for math and English language arts in grades K-12, known as the Common Core State Standards, will be taught in all Idaho public schools.
  • Teachers will continue to receive pay-for-performance bonuses in addition to their base salary if the entire school is eligible for schoolwide bonuses based on student academic growth or overall achievement.
  • For the third year, Idaho classrooms will receive advanced technology and the necessary professional development for teachers.
  • Mobile computing devices will begin to be rolled out to local school districts for use in every Idaho high school.

Changes You’ll See in the 2014-2015 School Year

  • Teachers will continue to receive pay-for-performance bonuses in addition to their base salary for teaching in hard-to-fill positions, taking on leadership duties, or working in a school that is eligible because it demonstrated schoolwide academic growth or overall achievement.
  • For the fourth year, Idaho classrooms will receive advanced technology and the necessary professional development for teachers.
  • Mobile computing devices will continue to be rolled out to local school districts for use in every Idaho high school.