Southwest Idaho PACE Program

Based in the Payette and Fruitland area, the Southwest Idaho Pathways to Accelerated Certification and Endorsement (PACE) Program provides an innovative pathway for men and women who love children and want to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education along with Idaho teaching certification and the All Subjects, K-8 endorsement.

Unlike traditional campus-bound college programs, the PACE Program combines online classes along with two face-to-face summer sessions held in southwest Idaho.  The summer sessions combine immediate hands-on experience as theory is taught.  PACE students take their college classes in the afternoons, taught by master teachers from southwest Idaho districts.  In the mornings, they teach 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who are attending the host district’s free summer enrichment program. 

During Summer 1 PACE students take face-to-face afternoon classes in how to teach language arts, math, PE, and manage the classroom.  Each morning they teach math, language arts or PE to real, live (and lively) children!  During the second summer session, PACE students learn how to teach science, social studies, and fine arts, and then teach those subjects to students each morning.

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In between the two summer sessions, PACE students take between 16 and 20 credits of online classes, spread out over fall and spring semester.  The program is designed so that the class load fall and spring semester is manageable for those who want to continue working full time.

While this program is specially designed to allow individuals who have earned their AA in education from Treasure Valley Community College or College of Western Idaho to efficiently complete their bachelor’s degree, it is open to any high school graduate who wants to become an outstanding elementary school teacher.

LC State’s teacher education programs are accredited by both the State of Idaho and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

LC State also has the lowest tuition rates of all of Idaho’s 4-year institutions.  Oregon residents can qualify for a significant tuition discount through the Western Undergraduate Exchange.

For more information, please contact Mark Haynal at 208-792-2237 or education@lcsc.edu.