Sherri Ybarra, state schools superintendent, said her top priority for next year – and the top request she heard from education stakeholders across the state – was to continue funding the teacher “career ladder,” which for next year means spending another $41.7 million. It’s already required by state law, under 2015 legislation. “As I spoke to stakeholders, the No. 1 priority was to continue funding for the career ladder,” Ybarra told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

“We’re now facing an educator shortage nationally and within our state,” she said. “The hiring pool of qualified teachers is shallow, and we’re seeing a rise in teachers who are using alternate routes to certification.”

Two recent studies – one from the state Board of Education, and one commissioned by Ybarra’s office and released on Monday, examined the impact of the teacher shortage on Idaho. The results, Ybarra said, showed, “Our teaching force is becoming less experienced. … Teachers with less than four years experience are making up a growing share of Idaho’s teacher workforce, especially in our low-performing, high-poverty schools. We also seeing some of our most disadvantaged students … served by our least experienced teachers.”

Ybarra said, “I want to be clear that we do value all teachers.” But, she said, it’s a mantra that the most training is needed to serve those most in need. “Solving our educator shortage will take several strategies from both the state and local level,” she said.

That includes working to create a climate and culture where being an educator is valued; working on “different certification paths to the classroom that still ensure quality,” and mentoring for those who are new to the profession.

The most important strategy, she said, “is the one that is before you today, which is the continued investment in the career ladder.”

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