The House has voted unanimously – 68-0 – in favor of HB 630, Rep. Julie VanOrden’s bill to increase pay for career-technical education teachers who have occupational specialist certificates in the fields they’re teaching; those teachers would get an additional $3,000 in salary. The fiscal impact of the bill is $1.7 million a year.

“We had 13 programs close down in the high schools last year because of lack of teachers available for these programs,” VanOrden told the House. “This bill would actually allow school districts to be able to recognize what’s called an occupational specialist certificate for these CTE teachers in the amount of $3,000. So they would be placed on the career ladder where they are right now. … It works somewhat like awarding teachers for having a masters degree.” The move comes as Idaho's planning a big boost in career-technical education classes at high schools next year.

The bill now moves to the Senate side. It also would need JFAC action to appropriate the money.