TITLE 33

EDUCATION

CHAPTER 12

TEACHERS

33-1204A.  alternative authorization program — administrators. (1) An individual who does not otherwise hold an administrator certificate required for employment as a school principal or superintendent may satisfy the standards of employment for such positions, or similar positions, through the alternative authorization program, which is hereby established to provide a nontraditional pathway to certification under an interim certificate. The alternative authorization program permits a school district board of trustees to request issuance of a three (3) year interim certificate for a qualified candidate. The program shall include two (2) pathways for authorization:

(a)  A "grow your own" pathway for experienced Idaho educators requiring leadership development; and

(b)  An "executive leadership" pathway for individuals transitioning from business, military, government, nonprofit, or other sectors who possess leadership and management expertise and require preparation in education systems.

(2)  To be eligible for alternative authorization as provided in this section, an applicant shall:

(a)  Pass a criminal history check as provided in section 33-130, Idaho Code;

(b)  Hold, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university;

(c)  Submit a letter from the school district board of trustees affirming that the applicant demonstrates leadership knowledge and skills, stating the district’s intent to employ the applicant, and committing to provide mentoring as required pursuant to subsection (5) of this section; and

(d)  Complete coursework consisting of no less than three (3) semester credits in the statewide framework for teacher evaluations, including a laboratory or applied component.

(3)  An applicant who meets the eligibility requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this section shall also satisfy one (1) of the following experience pathways to be eligible for alternative authorization:

(a)  The "grow your own" pathway, which requires no less than five (5) years of certified teaching experience in one (1) or more Idaho public schools; or

(b)  The "executive leadership" pathway, which requires demonstrated professional competency in management or leadership through no less than five (5) years of experience in one (1) or more of the following:

(i)   Higher education;

(ii)  Government service;

(iii) Nonprofit organization service;

(iv)  Private sector service;

(v)   Military service at the officer level; or

(vi)  Equivalent experience as determined by the state department of education.

(4)  Prior to the issuance of an interim certificate, the sponsoring school district, in collaboration with the state department of education, shall conduct an initial competency assessment using criteria aligned with Idaho administrator standards as adopted by the state board of education to identify any gaps in the applicant’s knowledge or skills. If deficiencies are identified, the applicant shall complete targeted coursework, professional development, or learning experiences consisting of no less than six (6) semester credits or the equivalent. Such instruction may include but is not limited to school law, public school finance, special education, and instructional leadership.

(5)(a)  An individual authorized for an interim certificate pursuant to this section shall receive structured, embedded mentoring from a certified administrator throughout the three (3) year term of the interim certificate. Such mentoring shall include:

(i)   Assignment by the sponsoring school district, subject to criteria established by the state department of education, of a mentor who holds an Idaho administrator certificate and has no less than five (5) years of experience in a comparable administrative role;

(ii)  A minimum of seventy (70) clock hours of mentoring during the first two (2) years aligned to a personalized learning plan addressing areas identified for growth in the initial competency assessment, including budgeting, student achievement analysis, employee evaluation, strategic planning, conflict management, school board relations, and special education law;

(iii) Ongoing evaluation and support throughout the interim certificate period; and

(iv)  Submission of an annual mentoring summary by the mentor to the state department of education that includes an assessment of the individual’s progress toward required competencies. The department shall review such summary for program oversight purposes and provide feedback to the mentor regarding mentoring effectiveness.

(b)  The sponsoring school district shall compensate the mentor and may use funds appropriated pursuant to section 33-320, Idaho Code, for this purpose.

(6)  An individual authorized for interim certification pursuant to this section shall be subject to oversight by the professional standards commission as provided in section 33-1208, Idaho Code. The state board of education may deny issuance of an interim certificate for any reason that would constitute grounds for suspension or revocation of a certificate.

(7)  An interim certificate issued pursuant to this section may be renewed annually for a period not to exceed three (3) years, contingent on receipt of proficient performance evaluations from the school district board of trustees and satisfactory completion of the mentoring requirements set forth in subsection (5) of this section. Upon completion, the individual shall be eligible for issuance of a standard administrator certificate with principal or superintendent endorsements.

(8)  An individual who successfully completes the alternative authorization program and is issued a standard administrator certificate shall remain subject to ongoing review, including annual professional development requirements aligned with state standards.

History:

[33-1204A, added 2026, ch. 254, sec. 1, p. 1094.]