Idaho: Working in Education in Idaho

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Master
MA in Education/Curriculum and Instruction, MA in Education/Teacher Ed. for Elementary Lic., MA in Education/Teacher Ed. for Secondary Lic.
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University of Phoenix

Associate, Master, Doctorate, Bachelor
AA in Paraprofessional Education, MA in Education/Curriculum and Instruction-English and Language Arts Ed., MA in Education/Curriculum and Instruction-Mathematics Ed., MA in Education/Curriculum and Instruction-ESL, MA in Education/Curriculum and Instruction, ..

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Educational Management

For the second year in a row Idaho principals are dealing with austerity measures to reduce spending in order to help cover the shortfall in the state budget. Cuts to public education are intended to help balance the budget without raising taxes.

A survey of 55 rural Idaho elementary principals reported in the journal Rural Educator examined practices in preschool and primary education. The principals reported that external factors blocked their efforts to implement best practices for young children. Interviews suggested that principals try to be both traditional and developmentally appropriate in order to appease all concerned.

To be eligible for an Idaho Administrator Certificate with an endorsement for School Principal Pre-K through 12, a candidate must:

  • Have a master's degree;
  • Have four years of full-time experience working with Pre-K through 12 students;
  • Have completed an administrative internship in a state-approved program or have one year of experience as an administrator in Pre-K through 12; and
  • Have completed 30 semester credit hours or 45 quarter credit hours of graduate study in administration for school principals.

Curriculum and Instruction

The Department of Education provides approved listings of materials in the various subject areas. New curricular materials are screened for content, organization, presentation, and quality. By selecting from the approved listings, districts and schools can maintain local control in their choices of instructional materials.

The Idaho Superintendent's Network is a network of educational leaders committed to improving outcomes for students by focusing on the quality of instruction.

Teacher's Aides

The Paraeducator Training Center (PTC) is a career pathways program that serves as a centralized location for paraeducator training throughout Idaho, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. All curriculums are aligned with the Idaho Paraprofessional Standards; paraprofessionals can take the courses for credit or not for credit. The PTC offers on-site training options to meet the needs of individual schools and districts.

Idaho has a two-tiered career lattice for teacher's aides and other paraprofessionals. The Technical Certificate is the initial step. The second step is the Associate of Applied Science Degree. The required 16 credits of general education are available in campus-based and online formats.

Students take the remaining credits in the specialized areas in which they are seeking their degrees.

A paraeducator who is currently in the Education Assistant Program – Special Education or Generalist area at an Idaho college or university can apply the majority of the credits toward a Special Education Teaching Certification.

The mean annual salary for teaching assistants in Idaho as of May 2008 was $23,950, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Technology Education

Technology education is a high needs area for the State of Idaho for the 2009-2010 school year. Teachers in shortage areas qualify for deferment of loan payment and/or partial or full loan cancellation.

The Division of Information Technology provides assistance to schools and districts in integrating technology with teaching and learning. It focuses on promoting the use of emerging technology trends to enhance student learning, productivity and creativity.

Idaho has a virtual school and a computer-based assessment for teachers.

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