In 7-1 vote, Ybarra loses fight with state Ed Board over school accountability data

Idaho state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra lost her fight Thursday to block the collection of additional data that state Board of Education officials and Gov. Butch Otter say is necessary to determine whether teachers are properly earning pay raises, Idaho Education News reports. Following a tense debate, board members voted 7-1 to pass a temporary rule calling for collecting four additional data points from districts. Ybarra cast the only dissenting vote, after declaring that the state Department of Education is not supposed to provide direct supervision of school districts.

Board members say lawmakers are urging them to provide additional data to track teachers’ movement up and down the career ladder. The 2015 career ladder law is Idaho’s $250 million plan to increase teacher salaries. Idaho EdNews has a full report here from reporter Clark Corbin.