Idaho education system eclipsed by neighbor to the south
by PG Veer
Watchdog
June 18, 2015
The Center for Education Reform recently published its annual “parent power index,” a web-based report judging how accessible information on education is for parents in every state. This year, Idaho took the 19th spot in the ranking. It is superior to all of its neighboring western states but Utah, which ranks at number 6.
This relative counter-performance shouldn’t come as a surprise. Indeed, Idaho charter schools are underfunded compared to their Utah counterparts, which receives some money from property taxes. In addition, Utah charter schools have the option of opting out or the state’s retirement system, unlike charter schools in Idaho.
Online education is also lagging behind, unlike Utah. As reported earlier, while the state improved accessibility to online classes, Idaho virtual schools are financed according to student success rather than per-pupil as public schools are; and Internet speed is still deficient. We will see next year if House Bill 643 improved that deficiency, along with Senate Bill 1091, which creates an online course portal.
Idaho is also stuck with antiquated policies when it comes to teacher quality. The National Council on Teacher Quality’s annual report states that for Idaho’s “exiting ineffective teachers,” “a last hired, first fired layoff policy is prohibited during reductions in force; however, performance is not considered in determining which teacher to lay off.
And while some schools allow feedback on teachers, those who “receive unsatisfactory evaluations are not placed on structured improvement plans.” Idaho does not even have performance pay; instead all teachers –with minor local variations– are on the same scale based on seniority and higher education attainments.
Teacher quality is much higher in Utah. Teachers who receive poor Bevaluations are placed on an improvement plan, their salary is adjusted to their evaluation result starting the following school year, and “performance is the top criterion for districts to consider when determining which teachers to lay off.”
Fortunately, not everything is so dark for Idaho in the PPI. As in Utah, Idaho allows parents to send their children to any school in the state if there is room available. Also, the schools’ report cards rated “helpful, easily accessible, well organized, and offer parents an overall school performance rating.” The School Choice Division even offers information on non-traditional options like charter and home schools. However school elections, unlike Utah, are dispersed through the year rather than being in-sync with the November cycle.
Idaho can do much better when it comes to empowering parents for their children’s education. If everything remains the same then it’s likely that Nevada, with its recent universal school choice law, will even outrank Idaho next year.
