EDUCATION – Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding a teacher apprenticeship program and to revise provisions regarding teacher certification.

S 1098 establishes Idaho's Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, creating an alternative pathway for prospective teachers to earn certification and a bachelor's degree through supervised on-the-job training with mentor teachers (licensed educators with 3+ years experience) combined with academic coursework. It directly affects aspiring teachers (apprentices), mentor teachers, and school districts by replacing the traditional requirement for a bachelor's degree with this apprenticeship model, while exempting apprentices from standard certification during program completion. Key provisions include requiring mentor teachers to guide apprentices without evaluating them, allowing mentor compensation beyond base salary, and amending certification rules to accept program completion as equivalent to a four-year degree. The program requires federal labor department approval and takes effect July 1, 2025.