Licensure Loopholes: Idaho

Analysis of Idaho's policies

Idaho allows teachers who hold a valid certificate from another state to teach on a three-year, nonrenewable interim certificate even if they have not met the state's licensure requirements, which include subject-matter testing.

Citation

IDAPA 08.02.02.15

Recommendations for Idaho

Ensure that all teachers pass required subject-matter licensing tests before they enter the classroom.
All students are entitled to teachers who know the subject matter they are teaching. Permitting individuals who have not yet passed state licensing tests to teach neglects the needs of students, instead extending personal consideration to adults who may not be able to meet minimal state standards. Idaho should ensure that all teachers have passed their licensing tests—an important minimum benchmark for entering the profession—prior to entering the classroom.

Limit exceptions to one year.
There might be limited and exceptional circumstances under which conditional or emergency licenses need to be granted. In these instances, it is reasonable for a state to give teachers up to one year to pass required licensure tests. However, Idaho's current policy puts students at risk by allowing teachers to teach on interim certificates for three years without passing required subject-matter tests.

State response to our analysis

Idaho recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.