Certification hearing planned

The Idaho State Board of Education is having a public hearing Thursday at North Idaho College on new rules for providing alternative ways for uncertified teachers to get approval to teach.

Under the new federal “No Child Left Behind” law, the Idaho State Board can no longer grant waivers for uncertified teachers.

So the State Board has approved temporary rules that provide an alterative route for certification. The rules include standards such as requiring pre-assessment of teaching and content knowledge, providing an academic adviser, exams on content knowledge and teaching techniques as well as a two-year mentoring program. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to participate in an alternate certification route. Beginning in 2005-2006, waivers will no longer be granted.

The 5 p.m. meeting is at NIC’s Molstead Library, room 210. The State Board also is having public hearings at the University of Idaho Center in Boise and at Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls.

To read the rules, go to: www.idahoboardofed.org/rules/documents/computerbasedalternativeroute.pdf.

Send written comments to the Idaho State Board of Education, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0037. The deadline is May 26. For more information, call (208) 332-1591.