More than 100 Idahoans have already participated in Teach for America — a program that encourages highly qualified college seniors to put their long-term career goals on hold to teach in underserved public schools for at least two years.

To date, however, Idaho’s Teach for America teachers have had to work elsewhere.

But that will change.

On Thursday, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to allow Teach for America to operate in Idaho.

Teach for America teachers come from all academic disciplines. Before entering the classroom, these teachers attend a summer training institute and take part in a collaborative apprenticeship program.

Teach for America now operates in 46 urban and rural areas nationally. More than 10,000 college students participated in the program this year.

“Our mission is to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation’s most promising future teachers in the effort,” Teach for America said in its application to the state.

For more about Teach for America, here is a recent Idaho Education News feature on the program.