Senator Thayn Pushes Legislation to Help Change the Face of Public Education

Starting in 2009, former high school teacher and current chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Steven Thyan began a now decades-long effort to bring innovative choices to Idaho’s public school system. A recent national magazine article that “AO (Advanced Opportunities) has fundamentally reshaped the high school experience in Idaho.” Currently, Idaho ranks #1 in the nation in the percentage of students taking dual credit classes. The Advanced Opportunities program provides students with up to $4,125 that students, starting in 7th grade, can use to further their education in several ways. They can take overload courses or summer classes to accelerate their path through the K-12 system. They can also use it to pay for Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and career technical examinations, to pay for dual credit, or to fund CTE workforce development courses and apprenticeships.

There are a number of key metrics on the benefits of AO:

● Advanced Opportunities rewards work and reinforces the culture of work in Idaho

● The $4,125 is the equivalent of a $20,000 scholarship if given post-high school

● Every high school in the state of Idaho becomes a mini-community college with these opportunities

● There are almost 270,000 college credits are earned each year by Idaho students in high school

● The program has created an early graduation scholarship

● It has almost eliminated the senior “slump.” Now seniors take college classes.

● College general education classes transfer across all Idaho state universities

● More students are taking summer classes leading to voluntary summer school Working with several other legislators

Thayn has also worked to develop strategies to improve education throughout the state of Idaho, including spearheading an effort with Rep. Lance Clow to replace Common Core; creating a “Jumpstart” kindergarten program with Rep. Ryan Kerby for students entering kindergarten that need help to get ready; working with former superintendent Andy Grover to get a bill passed that allows career-technical students to earn English and math high school credits in their CTE classes; and, partnering with private school leaders to provide dual credit funding for private school students.

Thayn also crafted the “Self-Directed Learner” bill which gives motivated students flexibility while schools still receive funding. The bill also created a powerful class management tool for teachers in an effort to reduce teacher stress.

Thayn also shared that he plans on introducing legislation next year that will reduce the need for more school buildings and increase parent choices by combining flexible scheduling, school-associated and parent-directed learning pods in the younger grades to reduce teacher stress and give teachers other paths to increase their incomes. This effort has the potential to improve outcomes while reducing the burden on property taxpayers and giving parents more options. Senator Thayn said he “believes in win-win solutions that empower families.”