A 2023 WalletHub survey ranked Utah as the third best state for teachers. In recent years, Utah’s Legislature has worked to improve its education system through education choice and curriculum transparency, but what has the state done for teachers?

Professional opportunities

During the 2024 legislative session, Utah passed SB 173, which establishes stipends and higher salaries for teachers in high need subject areas.

The objective, according to Sutherland’s education policy fellow, Christine Fairbanks, is to “help make teaching a six-figure career, as stated by the leading bill sponsor, by providing excellent-rated teachers with opportunities for higher pay” for teaching classes that are harder to find teachers for.

The Legislature also passed HB 431, which established the Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement Pilot Program.

The program gives teachers the opportunity to do “teacher leader work” outside the classroom to qualify for increased pay.

“Teacher leader work,” Fairbanks said, “comes down to teacher leaders supporting other teachers through mentorship and other professional development. Schools want to keep good, talented teachers in the classroom rather than jumping to administration.”

Salary considerations

2023’s HB 215, known as the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, provided teachers with an $8,400 salary increase. This program gave teachers a much-needed leg up.

SB 64, passed during the 2024 session, adds transparency and proactive efforts to the State Board of Education by requiring the board to inform teachers of their eligibility for a bonus within the Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program once they qualify for it.

The bill, Fairbanks said, is “aimed to keep good teachers in lower-income schools and communities by providing them awareness of stipends they already qualify for in an effort to encourage their retention.”

Benefits

To further ease the burden on teachers, Utah passed a law that moves classroom expenses onto the taxpayer, rather than on the personal expense of the teacher. Moving forward, teachers can now utilize a separate fund for classroom supplies and materials.

Educators can now benefit from a maternity leave plan, which includes up to two weeks of paid postpartum leave. Before HB 431 passed, educators were required to use their own paid time off for recovery after childbirth.

For more information on education policy in Utah, visit Sutherland’s education policy page here.

For a more in-depth perspective on this article, read our Insights piece here.