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Committee holds 'Back to the Future' teacher apprenticeship bill for more stakeholder work
Summary
Senate Bill 10 98, a technical cleanup and reconceptualization of teacher apprenticeship language, was presented and debated; the committee voted to hold the bill subject to call to the chair to allow further stakeholder work and clarification on degree and certification implications.
Senate Bill 10 98, described by sponsor Senator Carrie Semmelroth as a "Back to the Future" cleanup of earlier apprenticeship language, was discussed at length and then held subject to call to the chair after members raised questions about certification, degree requirements and implementation.
Semmelroth said the bill creates a new statutory section to define teacher apprentices and mentor teachers, and to align Idaho law with U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship standards. "Two years ago ... we took existing code and put the teacher apprenticeship into that. But in retrospect, we really should have just carved out a separate section in code and that's what this bill does," she said, summarizing the changes and the intent to convene a stakeholder work group over the summer to develop program details.
Committee members pressed for clarity on whether the apprenticeship pathway requires a bachelor’s degree to obtain a standard teaching certificate. The discussion repeatedly returned to a distinction between entering an apprenticeship (no bachelor's required) and the program’s intended outcome: an apprenticeship that works toward both a teaching certificate and a bachelor's degree so that certifications are portable across districts and states.
Matthew Reiber of the State Board of Education told the committee the board had not yet taken a position on the legislation and described prior stakeholder work on implementation. Semmelroth and several senators emphasized the goal of producing transferable certification and awarding college credit for demonstrated competencies: comparisons were made to trade apprenticeships and military credit for prior learning.
After extended questioning, Senator Woodward moved to hold SB 10 98 subject to call to the chair. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote; senators said more discussion and a stakeholder work group are needed before the committee advances the bill.
