Treasure Valley school districts faced with a shortage of special education teachers are turning to alternative routes of certification as they struggle to fill positions.
The Idaho Statesman reports that the shortage has hit West Ada School District, the state's largest district, and Boise School District, one of Idaho's highest-paying districts. Council, a logging town near Boise with only 240 students, has also struggled to find special education teachers.
Some schools have responded by hiring teachers not certified in special education, or not certified as teachers at all. A state-approved plan allows those who aren't certified to teach while they are on track to completing their certifications.
Boise State University has also launched a program that allows students to receive special education master's degrees in a year.