Idahoans for Choice in Education

Expanding Educational Choice for Idaho Families

by Darrel Deide

What has happened in our schools over the past half century has resulted in a mediocre school system that has not only failed students and parents, but has also failed our best and brightest teachers. It has happened innocently enough as school boards have given in to the demands of the union at nearly every turn. However, much of the blame or responsibility rests with the Idaho Legislature as they have enacted and amended laws that have made it almost impossible for local school boards to effectively manage their schools. This effort to please, has resulted in a system that protects the incompetent, that does not recognize high performance, that keeps many highly qualified people out of the profession, that has reduced the time that students spend in the classroom, that has watered down the curriculum, that has limited educational choice for teachers, families and students, that has stifled the energies and creativity of our teachers, and has failed to evaluate teachers based upon the performance of their students.

Specifically, what has happened and how can it be corrected? In short, what the legislature has given the legislature can "taketh" away! This "giveaway" process did not take place overnight, nor will the  solution. One of the most performance detracting elements in the current system is the single salary schedule where teachers are compensated only according to their years of experience and their years of education. Incidentally, neither of which has much significance in regard to how well their students learn. This single salary schedule does not recognize performance nor does it recognize that not all teaching fields are in equal demand. It is time for the legislature to quit falling for that old line that all teachers salaries must be increased before there is any discussion about performance pay or a differentiated salary schedule. Today's average teacher salary in Idaho is about $43,000.00 and with all of the state and local paid benefits the total compensation package is about $60,000.00. That may not be the best but it is certainly is not bad as it ranks 29th nationally. It is time for the legislature to appropriate specific funding, free from the bargaining table, for local school boards and administrators to begin the process of rewarding their best and retaining and recruiting those in the highest demand areas. Idaho code should also be amended to include student achievement (growth) as an area of teacher evaluation and determining teacher effectiveness. It is really not a novel idea to evaluate a teacher based upon what their job is all about!

Current Idaho law provides unnecessary protection for those teachers who under perform or are clearly incompetent. Our continuing contract law keeps some teachers in the classroom for years, doing untold harm to children, stifling the efforts of administrators and school boards and costing thousands of dollars in time and legal fees and often resulting in the teacher continuing to "teach." The harm is not only to the students but also to the many dedicated professionals whose stature is reduced by the presence of those who just get by.

Many states have repealed their tenure laws in favor of a more workable evaluation and dismissal process. Idaho can do the same.  The demand for well educated students is higher today than it has ever been, yet we have our students in the classroom less today than they were just a couple of decades ago. Some schools are on four day weeks, students are dismissed from school for assorted activities, such as athletics, conferences, assorted vacations as well as many early dismissals resulting in a huge loss of instructional time. We ought to go back to the 180 day school year and mean it! Today there is not one school district in Idaho that has their students in school for 180 days. The legislature could make this much needed change.

Empowering families to choose the best school for their child is an awesome tool, to not only build stronger families but also to build a stronger school system. For decades the Idaho legislature has held fast to their education belief that one size fits all, by not allowing home schools, virtual schools and charter schools. It has only been in recent times that the legislature has loosened it's strings on educational choice for Idaho families. However, the legislature still has a long ways to go before that powerful tool is afforded to all of Idaho families. For example, even though charter schools provide an equal or better educational program than traditional schools, provide career opportunities for many teachers and do so at a significantly less cost to taxpayers, there are still limits on the number of schools and additionally there are no incentives for local school districts or parents to start new educational choice options. While the legislature has made strides in this area there is still much to do.

The problems that our education system faces are of our own creation and so will be the solutions!

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ICE-PAC

P.O Box 933

Boise, ID 83701