Members of the Utah legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill in both the House of Representatives and Senate aimed at paying student teachers for their time in Utah’s classrooms. The bill heads to Governor Spencer Cox's desk for his signature.
“We greatly appreciate Rep. Peterson's willingness to collaborate with UEA and sponsor this bill. A grant will increase accessibility to student teaching programs for aspiring educators from economically underprivileged backgrounds,” said UEA President Renée Pinkney.
H.B. 221 Sub1: Stipends for Future Educators, sponsored by Rep. Karen Peterson and Sen. Chris Wilson, proposes a stipend of $6,000 to support new educators during their critical full-time student teaching phase. This move comes in response to a concerning trend: 42% of new teachers in Utah leave the profession within their first five years. The bill underscores UEA’s long-standing commitment to valuing educators but acknowledges the need for enhanced efforts in recruitment and retention.
The proposed stipend aims to alleviate the financial burdens faced by student teachers, who are currently unpaid. This lack of compensation often leads them to take additional jobs or incur debt.
“By creating a stipend program for future educators, we allow them to focus on preparing to be excellent teachers,” stated Rep. Peterson. Sen. Wilson added, “Ensuring teachers start on the right foot will increase the likelihood they stay in the profession.”
Approximately 1,400 student teachers would benefit from the stipend per year. It will go into effect on July 1, 2024.
