Idaho task force aims to improve middle schools
TWIN FALLS, Idaho – An Idaho task force assigned to come up with ways to improve the education of middle school students held its first public meeting to take comments on the plans it has come up with.
“Part of the reason we’re going on the road is we want feedback on the recommendations,” said Melissa McGrath, spokeswoman for the Idaho State Department of Education. “We want to know: How much do you think it would cost, what type of funding would you need?”
The 21-member Idaho Middle School Task Force was formed in May 2007 by the Idaho State Department of Education. It plans additional public meetings through the summer, McGrath said, before considering those public comments and possibly altering its recommendations.
More public meetings might then be held in the fall, McGrath said.
One of the main suggestions from the task force for improving middle school education is to create a statewide credit system that sets specific targets students must attain before heading to high school.
“Right now many students won’t pass a class in middle school and they’ll still go onto high school,” said McGrath. “We want to make sure they’re still proficient.”
About 25 people attended the meeting Tuesday, mostly school administrators and teachers.
The task force has also recommended offering professional development for teachers, and creating a teacher certification and endorsement for middle level educators.
“When I graduated from Boise State, there was nothing special that helped me understand the middle school level I was about to work with,” said task force member Rob Sauer, deputy superintendent of innovation and choice for the Idaho State Department of Education.
McGrath said that teachers at the middle school level are not required to be endorsed or certified to teach at that level.
“Hopefully the work of the task force will help propel universities or colleges to improve in this area,” said Wiley Dobbs, superintendent of the Twin Falls School District.
The task force could make recommendations to state lawmakers next year.