IdahoIdaho law lets districts seek interim certificates for school leaders
Idaho law provides a path for experienced teachers and other leaders to seek interim school administrator certificates with district support and mentoring.
What it does
Districts may seek interim certificates for qualified principal or superintendent candidates who lack the usual certificate. Candidates need relevant experience, and districts must plan to employ and mentor them.
Districts must mentor interim administrators throughout their certificate term and pay the mentors. Funds under the cited education section may help cover the cost.
Argument forExperienced teachers and leaders from other fields could qualify for school leadership jobs through a path suited to their background.
Argument againstDistricts may face added work and costs because they must assess candidates, arrange any needed extra coursework, and pay mentors.
More detail
A district board may ask for an interim certificate for a qualified candidate for a principal, superintendent, or similar job. The pathway is for people who lack the administrator certificate otherwise required for school leadership jobs. Applicants must pass a criminal history check, have at least a bachelor's degree, complete required evaluation coursework, and provide a district letter stating its intent to employ and mentor them. Candidates need at least five years of Idaho public school teaching experience or five years of qualifying leadership experience. The district and state education department must assess the candidate first; identified gaps require at least six credits or equivalent training. The interim certificate lasts three years and may be renewed each year for up to three more years if the candidate has proficient evaluations and completes mentoring. After completing the program, the candidate is eligible for a standard administrator certificate with the needed endorsement.
A district must provide structured mentoring and pay the mentor; funds under the cited education section may be used for that purpose. The mentoring is for people holding an interim certificate through this administrator pathway. The mentor must be a certified administrator with at least five years of experience in a comparable role. Mentoring includes at least 70 hours during the first two years, ongoing support, and annual progress summaries to the state education department. Mentoring continues throughout the three-year interim certificate term, with at least 70 hours during the first two years.
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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
- Apr 1Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 31, 2026 Session Law Chapter 254 Effective: 03/31/2026Became Law
- Mar 30Delivered to Governor at 12:31 p.m. on March 30, 2026To Governor
- Mar 30Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 30Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 30Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 27Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 26Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Read third time in full – PASSED - 30-5-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Rabe, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Ward-Engelking, WintrowAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - CarlsonTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 23Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 20Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 3Introduced, read first time; referred to: EducationMinor
- Mar 3Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 2Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 58-9-3AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Galaviz, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill(Brown), Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Berch, Church, Egbert, Gannon, Green, Haws(Woller), Mathias, Nelsen, RubelAbsent – Crane(13), Furniss, MickelsenFloor Sponsor - HawkinsTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, March 2, 2026
- Feb 26Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Feb 25Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Feb 17Reported Printed and Referred to Education
- Feb 16Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
Education