|
Butch Otter on Education
Republican governor; previously Representative (ID-1)
|
|
|
$58M to make public school teacher pay competitive
My first and most significant recommendation is for an ongoing allocation of $58 million to continue implementing the career ladder pay model for our public school teachers. Along with the $75 million that we invested in that effort during the past
two years, this new and largest tranche will keep us on track to reaching our five-year funding goal for attracting and retaining more of the best and brightest educators available. I'm also calling for an ongoing investment of $2.5 million a year
for leadership training of principals in low-performing schools.As we work to improve the competitiveness of Idaho's teacher pay, it's critical that we have a solid basis for rewarding excellence. Looking beyond the recent challenges that we've
experienced with teacher evaluations, this training will help ensure that school administrators can professionally, thoroughly and meaningfully assess teacher effectiveness and help guide their professional growth.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Idaho Legislature
, Jan 9, 2017
Need to increase access to college education
Along with insisting on transparency and robust local accountability, the foundation we're building will advance our goal of ensuring that 60 percent of Idaho citizens between the ages of
25 and 34 have a college degree or professional-technical certification by 2020.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Idaho legislature
, Jan 11, 2016
Imperative that reading outcomes are improved
Let me impress upon you the urgent need to address the cornerstone of successful lifelong learning--reading proficiency. If we're serious about wanting long-term improvement in school outcomes, we must intensify our efforts to provide the kind of proven
support that works for students who struggle to develop reading skills. My budget includes $10.7 million to pay for intervention support for students in kindergarten through third grade who are not yet proficient on the state reading indicator.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Idaho legislature
, Jan 11, 2016
Career ladders will attract and retain school staff
Overall, I'm calling for a 7.9-percent increase in public school funding, including more than $38 million to continue putting the teacher career ladder in place. And I'm asking for almost $1.8 million to move such non-instructional school staff as
counselors, nurses and speech pathologists onto the career ladder. I believe implementing the career ladder--based on specific student success measures--is essential to attracting and retaining the best teachers for Idaho schools.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Idaho legislature
, Jan 11, 2016
$5M for professional development for teachers
Success in teacher retention also means continuing investment in their professional development. So I'm asking for an investment of $5 million for professional development aimed specifically at mentoring new teachers. I support Superintendent Ybarra's
request to fully restore pre-recession levels of operating funds to school districts. Our Task Force recommended a five-year plan for that process. But the timeline can be cut to three years by approving my recommendation for nearly $30 million.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Idaho legislature
, Jan 11, 2016
Move to `mastery-based' learning from `seat time'
The Task Force recommends moving Idaho to a voluntary "mastery-based" education system. That's one in which teachers are encouraged to provide individualized learning focused on mastery of subject-matter
content and concepts rather than classroom "seat time." My fiscal 2017 budget includes $1.1 million to support up to 20 school districts in developing model programs for others to follow throughout Idaho.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Idaho legislature
, Jan 11, 2016
Replace "K-thru-12" with "K-thru-Career"
My education task force recognized the importance of the increased academic rigor we will see by successfully implementing the Idaho Core Standards. The task force recommendations are already inspiring promise to make the idea
of "K-through-12" education obsolete. The standard for Idaho's commitment to education excellence and workforce readiness can perhaps better be characterized as "K-through-Career."
It is a straightforward but profound way of describing our goals for building out and maintaining a continuum of education and training opportunities. It is a formula that emphasizes local autonomy and
accountability as the keys to success not only for our schools but also for our communities, our economy, and most importantly for our students.
Source: 2014 Idaho State of the State speech
, Jan 6, 2014
No major school improvement measures, just progress
My highest priority remains public schools. You will find that my budget recommendation includes increased funding for K-12 education. However, I do NOT seek to simply revisit issues related to school improvement that were raised in the recent election.
Instead, I've asked the State Board of Education to assemble a broad cross-section of stakeholders to study the message voters sent us and identify elements of school improvement on which there is broad agreement. I'm convinced that acting too quickly or
without due deliberation will generate needless distraction from our goals of improving efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability in our education system. Let me say it again: I am neither calling for nor expecting major school
improvement measures this year. But I believe there are areas in which we can make progress, and I encourage you and all citizens to engage in that public discussion. It's our very best chance to strengthen the foundation of our future.
Source: Idaho 2013 State of the State Address
, Jan 7, 2013
Recommend $1.36 billion to advance educational goals
I’m recommending a general fund appropriation of more than $1.36 billion to advance our educational goals and meet all the statutory requirements for public education and to cover the cost of a safe school study, while providing more than $5 million
for classroom supplies and almost $10 million for textbooks. For our colleges and universities, I am recommending a general fund appropriation of more than $275.6 million. That includes $12.9 million to help make salaries more competitive.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address
, Jan 8, 2007
Provide needs-based scholarships for college-bound students
To provide scholarships for those students who can least afford to go to college, I am recommending that $38 million be used to create a needs-based scholarship endowment for Idaho students. The earnings from this endowment will provide at least
$2 million per year for needs-based scholarships. We must maintain local control over our community colleges. We already have the legal framework in place to create additional community college districts with the support of local voters.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address
, Jan 8, 2007
Voted NO on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance.
Amendment to preserve the authority of the US Supreme Court to decide any question pertaining to the Pledge of Allegiance. The bill underlying this amendment would disallow any federal courts from hearing cases concerning the Pledge of Allegiance. This amendment would make an exception for the Supreme Court.Proponents support voting YES because:
I believe that our Pledge of Allegiance with its use of the phrase "under God" is entirely consistent with our Nation's cultural and historic traditions. I also believe that the Court holding that use of this phrase is unconstitutional is wrong. But this court-stripping bill is not necessary. This legislation would bar a Federal court, including the Supreme Court, from reviewing any claim that challenges the recitation of the Pledge on first amendment grounds.
If we are a Nation of laws, we must be committed to allowing courts to decide what the law is. This bill is unnecessary and probably unconstitutional.
It would contradict the principle of Marbury v. Madison, intrude on the principles of separation of powers, and degrade our independent Federal judiciary.
Opponents support voting NO because:
I was disappointed 4 years ago when two judges of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that our Pledge, our statement of shared national values, was somehow unconstitutional. I do not take legislation that removes an issue from the jurisdiction of this court system lightly. This legislation is appropriate, however, because of the egregious conduct of the courts in dealing with the Pledge of Allegiance.
By striking "under God" from the Pledge, the Court has shown contempt for the Congress which approved the language, and, more importantly, shows a complete disregard for the millions of Americans who proudly recite the Pledge as a statement of our shared national values and aspirations. No one is required to recite the Pledge if they disagree with its message.
Reference: Watt amendment to Pledge Protection Act;
Bill H R 2389
; vote number 2006-384
on Jul 19, 2006
Voted NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges.
This vote is on a substitute bill (which means an amendment which replaces the entire text of the original bill). Voting YES means support for the key differences from the original bill: lowering student loan interest rates; $59 million for a new Predominantly Black Serving Institution program; $25 million for a new graduate Hispanic Serving Institution program; provide for year- round Pell grants; and repeal the Single Lender rule. The substitute's proponents say: The original bill has some critical shortcomings. First and foremost, this substitute will cut the new Pell Grant fixed interest rate in half from 6.8% to 3.4%, to reduce college costs to those students most in need.It would also establish a new predominantly black-serving institutions programs to boost college participation rates for low-income black students, and a new graduate Hispanic-serving institution program.As we saw from 1995 to 2000, the questions employers were asking was not your race, not your ethnicity, not your
religion, they wanted to know if you had the skills and talents to do the job. Most often today, those skills and that talent requires a higher education. A college education is going to have to become as common as a high school education. The substitute's opponents say: - I feel it is not totally the Federal Government's responsibility to provide for all of higher education. The substitute has three critical flaws.
- 1.The name itself, "Reverse the Raid on Student Aid." Don't believe the hype. Not one student in America will receive less financial aid under our bill. Not one.
- 2. This amendment does not retain the $6,000 maximum Pell Grant award that our legislation has. In fact, they stay with the same old $5,800 maximum award.
- 3. It says that we are going to have a 3.4% interest rate for 1 year that is going to cost $2.7 billion, but it has no offsets whatsoever. How do they pay for it? They don't tell us.
Reference: Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Act;
Bill HR 609 Amendment 772
; vote number 2006-080
on Mar 30, 2006
Voted YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror.
Children's Prayers Resolution: Expressing the sense of Congress that schools should allow children time to pray for, or silently reflect upon, the country during the war against terrorism.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Isakson, R-GA;
Bill H.Con.Res.239
; vote number 2001-445
on Nov 15, 2001
Voted YES on requiring states to test students.
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Vote to pass a bill that would authorize $22.8 billion in education funding, a 29 percent increase from fiscal 2001. The bill would require states to test students to track progress.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Boehner R-OH;
Bill HR 1
; vote number 2001-145
on May 23, 2001
Let schools display the words "God Bless America".
Otter co-sponsored a Congressional Resolution on support for the Nation:
Title: Expressing the sense of the Congress that public schools may display the words "God Bless America" as an expression of support for the Nation.
Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HCR248 on Oct 12, 2001
Rated 17% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes.
Otter scores 17% by the NEA on public education issues
The National Education Association has a long, proud history as the nation's leading organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 "to elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States," the NEA has remained constant in its commitment to its original mission as evidenced by the current mission statement:
To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, the National Education Association shall promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interest of educational employees; and advocate human, civil, and economic rights for all.
In pursuing its mission, the NEA has determined that it will focus the energy and resources of its 2.7 million members toward the "promotion of public confidence in public education."
The ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Source: NEA website 03n-NEA on Dec 31, 2003
Page last updated: Feb 16, 2018