IdahoIdaho schools place some staff on pay ladders using industry experience
Starting July 1, 2026, Idaho public schools place some teachers and student support staff on the pay ladder based on related industry experience.
What it does
Career and technical education teachers with an occupational specialist certificate are placed on the pay ladder based on years of closely related industry experience. Existing teachers move to a higher rung only if the updated placement qualifies.
Certified student support staff with experience closely related to their school job are placed on the pay ladder based on that experience. Existing staff move to a higher rung only if the updated placement qualifies.
Student support staff and career and technical education teachers may count qualifying industry experience toward the years needed for professional or advanced professional endorsements.
Some staff entering the pay ladder with prior certified school experience may receive placement matching verified experience, if a school administrator documents that they met the required performance standards.
Argument forTeachers and student support staff with related industry experience could start farther along the pay ladder, recognizing skills gained outside public schools.
Argument againstStaff placed higher on the pay ladder through industry experience could remain at the same allocation if they do not meet the performance standards.
More detail
School districts place qualifying career and technical education teachers on the pay ladder using related industry experience. This applies to career and technical education teachers with an occupational specialist certificate who are new to or returning to an Idaho public school. The experience must closely relate to the subjects the teacher seeks to teach. Existing teachers on the residency rung receive a higher placement only if the update would put them on a higher rung. These rules take effect July 1, 2026.
School districts place qualifying student support staff on the pay ladder using related industry experience. This applies to certified pupil service staff who are new to or returning to an Idaho public school and seek a job eligible for certified pupil service staff. The staff member must hold a certificate, and the experience must closely relate to the job sought. Existing staff on the residency rung receive a higher placement only if the update would put them on a higher rung. These rules take effect July 1, 2026.
Qualifying pupil service staff and career and technical education teachers may count industry experience toward the experience years needed for professional endorsements. This applies to pupil service staff and career and technical education teachers seeking a professional or advanced professional endorsement. The experience must be calculated under the career ladder rules cited in the bill. This rule takes effect July 1, 2026.
School districts place some incoming teachers and student support staff with prior school experience at a pay ladder cell matching verified experience and performance. This applies to instructional and pupil service staff entering their first year on the ladder with prior certified school experience, including experience at an accredited private or parochial school. A hiring district or charter school administrator must document that the employee met the required performance criteria. The required experience and performance record depend on the employee's endorsement and years of experience. These rules take effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 173 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 26Delivered to Governor at 12:58 p.m. on March 26, 2026To Governor
- Mar 26Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 25Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 25Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 25Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 24Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 24Read third time in full – PASSED - 18-14-3AYES – Bernt, Burtenshaw, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Guthrie, Harris, Keyser, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Adams, Carlson, Galloway, Grow, Hart, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – Anthon, Bjerke(Bjerke), BlaylockFloor Sponsor - LentTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 19Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 11Introduced, read first time; referred to: EducationMinor
- Mar 11Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 10Rules Suspended: Ayes 64 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 6, read in full as required – PASSED - 43-25-2AYES – Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Erickson(Larsen), Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, Shirts, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Crane(12), Crane(13), Ehlers, Harris, Hill, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Palmer, Price, Rasor, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, WisniewskiAbsent – Holtzclaw, WheelerFloor Sponsors - Dygert & GalavizTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 64 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 6, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 9Reported Printed; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 9Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
Education