STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS29266C1 / H0533
In 2015 the Career Ladder was created to provide a new teacher state appropriation policy. This policy was
phased in over 5 years. It was originally recognized that the first Career Ladder was more favorable to young
teachers at the expense of veterans. Within that bill Section 10 of the HB292 bill established Master Teacher
Premiums, what became known as the Master Educator Premium (MEP). Section 33-1004 Idaho Code provided
veteran teachers to apply for the Master Educator Premium. The process was complex and time consuming. It
required tremendous effort by the candidate and many reviewers across the state. Those educators on the Career
Ladder would then qualify for a premium appropriation of $4,000 per year, renewable every three years. In
2020 the Career Ladder was revised to add a new rung “Advanced Professional” to address the complexity
created by the Master Educator Premium and address the salary appropriation for our veteran teachers. In that
bill, the Master Educator Premium was set to sunset on July 1, 2024, after two cohorts of teachers qualified.
It has been noted that there was an inequity for veteran teachers, who had been patient with the original career
ladder and ultimately qualified. Some teachers saw their education career grow over the past seven years
and serve our Idaho students in their schools with a different role. Teachers have invested many hours and
personal dollars to qualify to become a school administrator, like a principal or vice-principal. Unfortunately,
legislative foresight did not provide for this contingency. Administrators are not covered by the Career Ladder
and accordingly, teachers who had applied and been approved for the Master Educator Premium and were
subsequently offered an administrator position, found themselves outside the career ladder, yet still serving
Idaho Students.
This legislation would authorize an estimated 23 school administrators to receive their full three years of Master
Educator Premium as scheduled. They may have one, two or three premiums remaining under their original
approval date. This legislation will sunset with all Master Educator Premiums on July 1, 2024. It has an
effective date of July 1, 2020, to assure it included any teacher that moved to an administrator as early as Fiscal
Year 2021, thus assuring that individual would be compensated for all three Master Educator Premiums.
FISCAL NOTE
The estimated fiscal impact for paying approved master educator applicants who have shifted to administrative
roles from instructional/pupil service roles during one or more of their years of eligibility can be covered with
the current year’s appropriation and recommended 2023 budget. Fiscal year 2023 it is estimated that $52,620
of the total MEP budget will be directed to this change. The total appropriation for 2022 will cover the teachers
impacted in Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022, estimated at $138,724. The total for three fiscal years is an estimated
$191,344.
Contact:
Representative Lance Clow
(208) 332-1000
DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and fiscal note are a mere attachment to this bill and prepared by a proponent
of the bill. It is neither intended as an expression of legislative intent nor intended for any use outside of the legislative
process, including judicial review (Joint Rule 18).
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note Bill SOP/FN INTRODUCED: 02/03/2022, 3:27 PM


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-1004I