Gov. Butch Otter has vetoed the charter school administrator certification bill, HB 566a. The amended bill passed the Senate 23-10 and the House 58-11; the original bill passed the House 49-18. The measure would set up a new certification for charter school administrators that lacks the educational requirements other school administrators in Idaho must have to achieve certification. The original bill would have required only a bachelor’s degree, three semester credits of training in teacher evaluation and a criminal background check; the Senate-amended version adds requirements for either five years of teaching experience, or five years experience running a public charter school, or completion of a “nationally recognized charter school leaders fellowship.”

“Effective teachers are the biggest factor in determining student achievement. However, strong school leaders are essential to fostering and supporting effective teachers,” Otter wrote in his veto message. “Idaho needs administrators in all public schools, including charter schools, who are not merely building managers or finance officers but also instructional leaders who can establish a positive school climate and nurture collaboration among educators. Asking educators to follow a leader who shares neither experience nor educational preparation in the field undervalues the teaching profession.”