Utah Bill Would Give Some Teachers $20,000 Bonus

A Utah bill could potentially see teachers earn a $20,000 bonus. For many, that would catapult their yearly income into six figures.

The Republican-led state Legislature has just introduced SB0137, and it would see the state's top teachers making $100,000-plus for the designated school year. Specifically, the top-performing 25 percent of Utah teachers would earn the extra $20,000.

"A teacher who's mid-career in Utah will be able to know when they start, if I am successful at this job and I am able to move up, I can earn $100,000 a year and support my family," GOP State Senator Lincoln Fillmore said, as reported by 10 News San Diego.

The bonuses would end up costing $200 million, with the payments scheduled to be sent out this summer if the legislation succeeds.

Republican State Representative Karen Peterson also introduced a stipend that would aid student teachers and help them cover their costs of living.

"We're seeing too many student teachers defer for a semester or a year so they can save money to come back and do their student teaching," Peterson said.

Because Utah is experiencing a teacher shortage, it's likely the $20,000 bonuses could incentivize more to enter the education system.

But beyond that, it might curb the financial stresses many teachers feel, with some electing to take on second jobs due to their lower salaries.

"This bill enables highly qualified professionals to stay engaged in an education system, living close by the communities where they are teaching," Dr. Rebecca Mannis, learning specialist in neuropsychology at Ivy-prep.com, told Newsweek. "The community context and proximity is priceless."

The average public teacher salary for Utah was $54,569, according to Salary.com's most recent numbers. That often is not enough for employees to support themselves and their families.

"The bonus would provide much-needed additional income for many teachers," finance expert Andrew Lokenauth, who runs TheFinanceNewsletter, told Newsweek. "The extra funds could help ease financial stress and allow them to better support their families or save more for retirement."

Students are likely to benefit as well if schools are able to improve their turnover rates, courtesy of the bonuses.

"More stable teaching staffs with less turnover would promote continuity and stronger relationships between teachers and their students," Lokenauth said.
"This helps create a better overall learning environment."

Still, it's unclear if the bill will actually come to pass, as securing the $200 million in funding could be a challenge.

"The large cost of the bonuses may make some legislators hesitant to approve this bill. Securing funding is the biggest obstacle to passing it," Lokenauth said. "However, the teacher shortage problem in Utah is severe and widespread support for teachers could help. Lawmakers recognize improved compensation is needed to fix the issue."

Still, others are concerned about the ability of the school systems to qualify who the "top-performing" teachers are and which ones would receive the bonus.

"That in itself is going to be met with a lot of drawback from teachers who don't teach within those parameters," Kentucky-based special-education teacher Shakia Harris told Newsweek. "As an educator, it's hard not to be apprehensive of this plan. At first glance, one would think that it's a great idea, but you can tell that they haven't worked out the kinks yet."

Harris said teachers are leaving the profession at alarming rates in every grade level and department. And if the bonuses are based on a "deeply flawed" testing system, there could be trouble ahead.

"The testing system is deeply flawed, so if the bonuses are contingent upon student scoring using their criteria, then that would be a major disappointment," Harris said. "Every building and classroom is totally different, so coming up with a merit-based option just seems like it will leave someone with the short end of the stick."

Harris said she had to start her own small business just to fund her classroom supplies.

"Teachers need more money annually due to the cost of living, but they need an increase in debt forgiveness and for our district budgets to reflect an increase in money being spent directly in the classroom," Harris said. "$20,000 is nice, but after taxes, having to buy supplies, and having to repay back loans with awful interest rates, at the end of the day, it ends up just being a drop in the bucket."