Together, we can improve education in Utah.

Watch these videos and explore this site to learn what we can do to improve education.
Support great teachers
Within a school, teachers will have a greater impact on my education than anything else.
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Supporting Utah teachers is essential to helping our kids grow up to be successful.

Great teachers have a bigger impact on our students' success than any other factor in a school. They play a critical role in helping our kids gain the knowledge and skills they need to pursue their goals and be prepared for life.

But like any job, teachers need adequate resources and support to do their best work. When we take care of our teachers, we empower them to provide our kids with the best education possible.

The problem is, Utah students aren't choosing to become teachers. In 2017, only 34% of our new teachers came from Utah's academic teacher prep programs, compared to 58% in 2007.

Unfortunately, there are good reasons for that. Utah's average teacher salaries and per-pupil spending are significantly less than the U.S. average, while our class sizes are much bigger. These and other factors make teaching in Utah a tough job.

But recruiting more students into our traditional teacher training programs is critical to building a healthy teacher workforce for our K-12 kids. While other teachers leave the profession at annual rates as high as 23 percent, those recommended for licensure by Utah colleges and universities are likely to stay in the classroom long-term. And research shows teacher turnover not only costs schools and districts—it hurts student performance.

When we work to strengthen and support our teachers, we'll retain great educators at higher rates and encourage Utah's best and brightest students to join them.

Utah teachers work hard for our kids, and they deserve our support. That means making their compensation more competitive, creating more opportunities for career advancement, and guaranteeing new teachers adequate mentorship, to name a few. Adjustments like these, in addition to elevating the public perception of educational professions, will do wonders to build a diverse, high quality teacher workforce across the state, and Utah kids will reap the benefits.

Competitive
Compensation

We need to offer teachers the kind of compensation that will draw people into the profession and enable them to stay long-term.

Professional
Support

Like all professionals, teachers benefit from high-quality training and mentorship, diverse career pathways, and the chance for ongoing professional learning and practice.

Greater
Respect

Learning to view and talk about teachers with more respect will help attract Utah's best students into the profession.

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My Education Story
Why does education matter to you?

We all have a story about education. Remember that teacher that made an impact? Or the moment you realized why school mattered to you? Or when you felt like you could see wheels turning in your baby’s head? Click below to hear more stories and to share your own!

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Our Research

Supporting great teachers has been proven to deliver the outcomes Utahns want from education: a higher quality of life, the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their goals, and prosperous communities. Take a look at the research and resources below to learn how supporting great teachers will create a brighter future for all of us.

 

Get The Facts
Utahns think schools are spending more on administration than they should. That perception doesn't match up with reality - administrative costs in Utah are among the lowest in the nation and the majority of funding is spent on helping students gain knowledge and skills.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865664394/Survey-Majority-of-Utahns-think-state-spends-too-little-on-education.html?pg=all 

Get The Facts
Measures of teacher preparation and certification are by far the strongest correlates of student achievement in reading and mathematics, both before and after controlling for student poverty and language status.

http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/index.php/epaa/article/view/392

Get The Facts
The foundation of exceptional schools and institutions of higher education is outstanding educators. In K-12 education, teachers serve a critical and direct role in student learning, and are considered one of the most important predictors of student achievement.
Rice, J. K. (2003). Teacher quality: Understanding the effectiveness of teacher attributes. Economic Policy Institute. Washington, DC.
Get The Facts
A state Office of Education analysis of data from 2011 to 2016 shows that Utah's rate of teacher attrition mirrors the national trend. But when the time frame was narrowed to one year — 2011-2012 — the Beehive State lost instructors at about 15.5 percent, which is twice the national average.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/4006906-155/one-answer-to-utahs-teacher-shortage

Get The Facts
Policies adopted by states regarding teacher education, licensing, hiring, and professional development may make an important difference in the qualifications and capacities that teachers bring to their work.

http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/index.php/epaa/article/view/392

Get The Facts
During an academic year pupils taught by teachers at the 90th percentile for effectiveness learn 1.5 years’ worth of material. Those taught by teachers at the 10th percentile learn half a year’s worth.

http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21700385-great-teaching-has-long-been-seen-innate-skill-reformers-are-showing-best

Get The Facts
To retain high-quality educators, especially in high-poverty communities, schools must offer working conditions that support educator growth (e.g., career advancement and capacity building) and student success.
Get The Facts
Teachers may already be working hard, but may not have the knowledge, skills, or resources to be successful. Collaboration and sharing knowledge with other teachers may help all teachers improve.
Darling-Hammond, L. (2012). Two futures of educational reform: What strategies will improve teaching and learning? Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Bildungswissenschaften, 34(1), 21-38.
Get The Facts
Educators leave the profession for numerous reasons, including stress and emotional exhaustion, low salaries, poor work/life balance, and better career opportunities outside education.

https://daqy2hvnfszx3.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/04/19110358/ECAPS_for_Teachers_report_Feb2018_Final.pdf

Get The Facts
We asked more than 4,000 college students why they didn't want to become teachers. They told us the biggest factors holding them back were other interests and low salaries, followed by a desire to make bigger impacts in other professions and too few opportunities for advancement in the teaching field.

Click here for the complete survey findings.

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Begin with
preschool

High quality preschool can help every child have the right foundation to gain the knowledge and skills they’ll need. Even though preschool is for young children, the effects of good preschool can last throughout a child’s education and throughout a child’s life—helping them become productive, contributing members of society.

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Next
Help every
child succeed

We all face challenges, but when we remove barriers and give every child a chance to succeed, we help make our communities stronger too.

If we help students gain knowledge and skills in school, we’ll give them the confidence to pursue their goals in life and help them create a better life for their own families—and contribute to better communities for all of us.

Learn More