SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah will need to hire nearly 8,000 new teachers within the next eight years to keep its current student-to-educator ratio because of soaring enrollment growth, but state education officials warned Wednesday they're having a difficult time just keeping the teachers they already have.
The impending teacher shortage was called a "train wreck waiting to happen" by Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville.
Legislators are scrounging for ways to help retain the teachers they have while attracting new ones. The State Office of Education reports that one-third of educators leave the profession within their first three years of service and that number jumps to about 50 percent within the first five years.
"We spend a lot of money in our training programs. To have them drop out of the profession after three or five years is a huge waste of taxpayer dollars," said Ray Timothy, associate education superintendent, during a legislative committee meeting.
Education officials are trying to maintain a ratio of 16 students for every educator, but that's becoming increasingly difficult as enrollment grows.
To Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Salt Lake City, the reason teachers are leaving the profession or not choosing it to begin with is clear.
"Frankly, they can't afford to live on those salaries. You get a bachelor's degree and you make under $30,000 a year. There are too many more attractive options out there," said Moss, a teacher.
In Utah, all revenue from income taxes is dedicated to education. But with the highest birth rate in the nation, Utah spends less per student than any other state in the country.
Teacher retention is a growing concern for the state education office, particularly as Utah increases its core graduation requirements, Timothy said.
Not only are young teachers leaving, about 40 percent of the state's teaching force is 50 or older and nearing retirement age. And the state's colleges aren't producing an increasing number of graduates.
"We have nowhere near the number of teachers coming into the profession to replace the number of teachers going into retirement," Timothy said.
He said the state education office is searching for ways to provide incentives to go into teaching while legislators search for their own solutions.
Rep. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, said the state board of regents needs to expand its offerings to those who want to become teachers. The Washington County school system will need 749 teachers within the next 10 years to keep up with enrollment growth.
Urquhart said many teachers can't afford to live in the booming retirement area of southern Utah. He said it's critical more residents already living there be allowed to enroll in a certification program. Last year, only 14 Southern Utah University graduates took employment in Washington County schools, he said.
"Part of our big problem is that housing is through the roof. Teachers like to teach there and can't afford to live there. Folks who live there and would like to go into teaching, the regents haven't made spots for them. This is just absolutely killing us," Urquhart said.
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On the Net: Utah Teacher Supply and Demand Report:
www.schools.utah.gov/board/summary/UtahEducatorSupplyandDemandStudy2 004-2005.pdf
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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