Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter recently called for support of investments in “K-Through-Career” educational initiatives that will prepare the state’s next generation to meet labor market needs.
Otter said educational investments at all levels — from kindergarten to professional technical training programs and college systems — were reflected in his budget requests to the Idaho legislature for the 2017 fiscal year.
“My K-through-Career budget recommendations for fiscal 2017 and new initiatives for implementing the recommendations of my Task Force for Improving Education represent comprehensive, strategic, long-term investments in the people of Idaho,” Otter said. “The people’s mandate is clear: build a transparent and accountable public education system that produces talented and motivated citizens prepared to take on our 21st century challenges.”
For K-12 schools, Otter has proposed focusing on task force recommendations to support the second year of career ladders for Idaho teachers and to support literacy in young students. Otter’s proposal calls for $10.7 million in new funding to support literacy in children before they reach the third grade.
“We must ensure that those students who struggle with reading early on are not left behind for the rest of their educational journey,” Otter said. “And since that journey should be a lifelong endeavor, I am asking legislators for $5 million so our schools can provide better college and career counseling to help students and parents explore opportunities beyond high school.”
Idaho has seen a drop in people pursuing postsecondary degrees and certifications in recent years. The rate has declined from 56 percent to 52 percent over the last two years, a trend that Otter said must be curbed.
“The higher education initiatives I am proposing are focused on helping individuals get a college degree or professional-technical certification on which to base a career,” Otter said. “We know that the cost of attending college can be a significant barrier, so I am proposing to double the funding for our Opportunity Scholarship, a need- and merit-based award of up to $3,000 a year for four years. We had nearly 6,000 applicants last year and were able to award fewer than 2,000 scholarships to help recent high school graduates go on to one of our technical schools, colleges or universities.”
Otter has also proposed a “tuition lock” that would fix the tuition rate for students attending the state’s four-year universities. A new “completion scholarship” proposed by Otter would also encourage college students to complete their degree programs.
“It would help adults who have been out of postsecondary education for at least three years by providing up to $3,000 a year for four years as an incentive to come back and finish up that certificate or degree program,” Otter said.