A third version of the teacher pay bill was introduced in the House Education Committee this morning, Idaho Education News reports, clearing the way for a showdown hearing set for Friday morning. The major change from the second to third version, reports EdNews reporter Clark Corbin, involves a $4,000-per-year bonus for master teachers. Under the revised plan, groups of teachers would be able to apply together to receive financial awards. But it still would go only to an estimated 20 to 25 percent of teachers statewide.

Friday’s hearing is tentatively scheduled for 8:30 a.m., although an official agenda had yet to be released Thursday morning, Corbin reports. Full hearings, such as the one planned for Friday morning, represent the public’s opportunity to weigh in and provide testimony to lawmakers. He writes that the stakes are high, with concern over teacher recruitment and retention playing out across the state, and the setting of the school budget for next year and potential end of this year’s legislative session on hold while the issues plays out in committee. Corbin’s full report is online here.