Gov. Butch Otter is outlining his education proposals for the coming year, including the next installment in the teacher career ladder: Nearly $42 million in the coming year for the fourth year of the five-year plan. Overall, Otter is proposing a 6.03 percent increase in state general funds for K-12 public schools next year. That includes a $10 million boost to classroom technology funding, in line with recommendations from his education improvement task force; $4 million more for teacher professional development; $5 million more for college and career counseling; $8 million more for advanced opportunities; and $6.5 million for the next phase in the state’s K-3 literacy program, which focuses on intervention for youngsters based on their scores on state’s reading indicator.

“We must provide a timely boost for these children before the focus of their education moves from the fundamental skill of reading to the applied skill of reading to learn,” Otter said.

“Our five-year plan for improving public schools is a watershed achievement for Idaho,” the governor declared. “With strong and diverse stakeholder involvement, with buy-in from educators, patrons and policy makers – and with your continuing leadership and support – Idaho will keep building a world-class education system.”