Boise State Launches Paid Residency to Retain Idaho Teachers

Boise State University’s College of Education will fund paid, full-time teaching positions for new graduates under Project TRAIL, a program designed to address the state’s teacher shortage. The initiative utilizes an $8 million Teacher Quality Partnership grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the Teacher Residency Academy for Induction and Leadership. Dr. Hannah Carter, the project’s principal investigator, stated that the grant allows the university to partner with nine rural districts to place student teachers in those areas after graduation.

The program builds on the standard requirement for student teachers to complete a professional year during the final year of their master’s studies. Typically, this year is unpaid. Project TRAIL converts this period into a paid, full-time residency in local schools. Participating districts, which include Parma, Kuna, and Caldwell, will hire graduates of the residency. To qualify, applicants must first be accepted into the College of Education’s elementary, second education, or special education master’s programs.

Selection beyond academic acceptance involves a review of written and video essays. Evaluators look for candidates who demonstrate a reflective mindset and a desire for coaching. Dr. Megan Lynch, the project’s co-principal investigator, noted that the program also considers whether applicants are from the specific area where they intend to teach. Lynch explained that candidates from the Kuna School District who wish to return to that district hold an advantage in the application process.

A central focus of the project is providing induction support to teachers in their first five years of service. Lynch described this period as the induction into teaching. She cited research showing that teachers left without support during these early years have a higher likelihood of burnout and leaving the profession. The program addresses this by creating a cohort of new teachers who can discuss career challenges together.

Participants will also receive stipends to take graduate courses during their early career years. These courses allow teachers to develop specific skills and explore areas of interest. The project will run for three years, during which it will place 75 teachers into resident, early-career, mentor, and teacher leader categories.

Idaho faces a recurring challenge in filling teaching vacancies. A 2023 report from the Idaho State Board of Education indicated that approximately 2,000 teaching positions require filling each year. Lynch believes that providing stronger support to new graduates will help retain them, reducing the need for constant recruitment. The grant also provides the College of Education with time to conduct classroom research. This research aims to identify the specific needs of first-year teachers and improve university partnerships with local schools.