Committee hears 'Back to the Future' bill to recast teacher apprenticeship code; members vote to hold for further discussion

State Senator Carrie Semmelroth introduced Senate Bill 1098, described as a cleanup and "Back to the Future" bill that would carve teacher apprenticeship language into a new code section, define mentor teacher and teacher apprentice roles, revert earlier code edits, and set the stage for a stakeholder work group to design statewide apprenticeship programs.

"If you look at page 1, starting on line 14, there's a new section, 33 12 oh 3 a. It ... defines mentor teacher and teacher apprentice," Semmelroth told the committee. She said the change is intended to align Idaho code with U.S. Department of Labor standards after teacher apprenticeships were recognized in October 2021.

Semmelroth said the apprenticeship model aims to "blur the lines between preservice to inservice," so apprentices can work in classrooms under mentorship while earning a bachelor's degree and a certificate. She described the desired outcome as an apprenticeship that "should end with both a bachelor's degree and a certificate so that teacher can work across districts, go to other states. That certificate should stand alone."

Members pressed for specifics. State Board of Education representative Matthew Reiber told the committee the state board "has not taken a position on this legislation" and that the "apprenticeship program as it stands does not require a 4 year bachelor's to become a full fledged apprentice." He said a stakeholder committee had previously convened to implement prior statutory changes.

Senators asked whether completing the apprenticeship would require a bachelor's degree to receive a standard certificate. Semmelroth and supporters said the intent is for apprenticeships to work toward an accredited bachelor's degree alongside credentialing, creating a certificate that is transferable and recognized across districts. Senator Nichols and others expressed concern that reverting to a degree requirement could impede recruitment in the near term and underscored that Idaho's principal problem is teacher retention rather than an absolute shortage of certified individuals.

Committee members also asked how higher-education institutions would participate and whether institutions such as the University of Idaho would be compelled to accept apprenticeship credit; Semmelroth said those are the kinds of issues the summer work group would resolve.

After extended discussion, Senator Woodward moved that Senate Bill 1098 be held "subject to call to the chair." The motion was seconded, called and passed by voice vote after members debated that further stakeholder work is needed before advancing the bill.

The hearing recorded substantive questions about implementation, the interaction with existing certification rules (notably code section 33-12-01), and the plan to convene a work group including P-12, higher education, the Department of Labor and other stakeholders. The committee took no final action on statutory text during the hearing; the bill was held for further consideration.