Early Childhood Teacher Certification in Idaho

Idaho’s Early Childhood Education Scene

Idaho, a large state located in the northwest, is in need of passionate teachers to improve the face of education across the state. It is ranked the 49^th state in the nation for education, receiving an overall state grade of “C-“, according to Education Week’s 2013 national annual rankings. It earned its highest grade of “B+” in the Standards, Assessments, and Accountability category. Idaho is one of the 10 states that does not allocate public funding to early childhood education, ranking 46^th in the country in 2013 for the number of kids who attend preschool. It relies heavily on the Head Start program, funded by the federal government. Overall, there is a vast range of opportunities available to teachers who want to make a difference in the state of Idaho.

Earning Idaho Teaching Credentials

The Idaho State Department of Education includes extensive information about how to obtain certification/licensure. You will need to familiarize yourself with this site, as it contains many resources valuable to both aspiring teachers and current teachers.

The types of certificates available to early childhood education teachers are as follows:

• Certificate/Credential for Out-of-State Applicants: for individuals who currently hold a valid out-of-state certificate or who have completed an approved out-of-state teacher preparation program.
• Initial Certificate/Credential for Interim Certificate Completers: for individuals who have successfully completed the requirements of the three-year interim certificate.
• Initial Certificate/Credential for Idaho Graduates: for individuals who have completed a teacher preparation program in Idaho and are ready to begin their teaching career.
• Post-Secondary Specialist Certificate: for individuals who hold a master’s degree or higher and are hired to teach their subject of mastery.
• Interim Certificate/Credential for ABCTE Applicants: for individuals who have completed all the American Board requirements.
• Certificate/Credential for Educators Trained in Foreign Institutions: for individuals who completed a teacher preparation program in a foreign country.

An Early Child/Early Childhood Special Education Blended Certificate (birth through grade three) or a Standard Elementary Certificate (K through eight) are available. To apply, submit the appropriate application along with the various supporting documents and assessments. Applicants must also complete a background investigation check. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact the licensing department, should you have any further questions about the licensing/certification process.

Getting a Teaching Job in Idaho

There are several different avenues you can take to pursue a career in this dynamic field.

Public schools employ the vast majority of individuals seeking careers in early childhood education. Idaho Education Jobs features open teaching positions within the state, as well as important information about certification, high need areas, job fairs and more. Applicants can filter results by region,category, grade and job type. The website School Spring also lists teaching job vacancies within the state.

Other employers to become familiar with are private schools, Head Start and Montessori schools. Be sure to research the child-care centers in your local area, as many of these centers are in constant need of highly qualified teachers and assistant teachers. GreatSchools.org can help you find top-rated preschools and elementary schools in your community as well.

Idaho’s Teacher Groups

There are many professional organizations for teachers in the state of Idaho that share similar visions.

The Idaho Education Association (IEA) is 10,000 members strong with a member in almost every education building across the state. It aims to improve the profession and local public schools. It provides union benefits and is affiliated with the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest professional employee organization, with three million members in over 14,000 communities across the country.

The Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC) increases public awareness of the importance of early childhood education and provides professional development for educators. It has four local affiliates and strives to help children from birth through age eight, as well as their families. The organization is an affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), an organization consisting of 80,000 members.

There are also a variety of organizations for teachers based on specific areas of interest, including the Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) and the Idaho Science Teachers Association (ISTA).

Idaho Early Childhood Education Bloggers

The Idaho Education News page covers hot topics, issues, and events in Idaho’s schools, as does the Idaho Statesman education section. Idaho teachers also share insights and information through their personal blogs.

Primary in Idaho is maintained by a first-grade teacher who shares a variety of ideas and resources for early childhood education teachers.

Forever in First was created by a first-grade teacher of 19 years who blogs frequently about her classroom happenings.

Mrs. T’s First Grade Class is written by a teacher at an art magnet school who documents exciting classroom projects.