It’s usually a simple equation. If you want high-performing schools, you need high-performing teachers. The question — particularly for a fast-growing state like Utah — is how to attract and retain them.
In its new report, “Apples to Apples? How Teacher Pay in Utah Stacks Up to the Competition,” Utah Foundation reveals that average teacher pay in our state is well below the national average and at the bottom of the eight Mountain States.
But averages give you only a surface glance. When factoring in experience and credential levels, Utah rises to the middle of the Mountain States. As to cost of living, Utah also stands roughly among the mid-range of the Mountain States.
Relative to our neighborhood, teacher pay in Utah appears somewhat competitive. So attracting and retaining teachers should be no problem, right?
Well, in a fast-growing state like ours, there is an ever-expanding student population, which drives new classrooms and the need for additional teachers. And the proportion of teachers coming through traditional four-year teaching programs — those most likely to stay in the profession long term — has dropped precipitously in recent years.
View Article