No surprises in list of fixes for Texas teacher shortage. Will the legislature act? | Opinion

Texas officials and lawmakers have known for some time that improving public school education is vital to the health of our younger generations, and addressing the teacher shortage is one of the items on the to-do list to achieve that end.

We’ve also suspected, given various surveys, that there’s a hefty gap between a teacher’s current reality and the list of particulars that would improve their job experience: Now there’s a road map available that shows how to close that gap.

Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott commissioned the Teacher Vacancy Task Force, comprised of teachers and school system leaders in public education, to dig deep into the issue of how to develop a “thriving teacher workforce in Texas.” Recently, the task force released its 53-page report. The findings, while important, are not exactly new concepts: Teachers need pay raises, more training, and a healthier, safer work environment. However, it’s still helpful to see specific problems and solutions presented. The state now needs to execute on as many of these items as it can afford to in this legislative session.

While teacher compensation isn’t the worst in the country — Texas ranks 28th according to a National Education Association report — it’s still about $7,700 less than the national average. The job teachers do is vital and difficult, as anyone who’s been in a room full of 20 first-graders for more than an hour can attest. The bottom line: We need to use some of the state’s massive surplus to implement teacher raises.

The task force recommends that this should happen via increasing the funds allocated per student, with a requirement that school systems increase the percentage that goes toward teacher compensation, since school districts must use 30% of any additional revenue they receive to increase employee salaries. The task force also suggests increasing the minimum salary schedule so it doesn’t take up to two decades for a teacher to make just $55,000 annually. The state should also consider enhancing teachers’ compensation packages by reducing the cost of healthcare insurance. The average district contributes 60% less than the average employer in Texas contributes, forcing an additional burden on teachers.

Salary wasn’t the only concern: Teachers need additional training and support. The task force recommended increased funding to scale “Grow Your Own” pathways for high school students and paraprofessionals who want to become certified teachers. Similarly, the task force also recommended establishing and funding paid teacher residencies, which could improve the performance and experience of newer teachers. (Although it was comforting to learn that nearly 45% of Texas teachers have between 11-21+ years of experience; this should be an added benefit to newer teachers, too, when it comes to mentorships.) Streamlining curriculum so teachers can spend more time teaching and less time planning was another top issue the task force suggested fixing.

Finally, the task force suggested improving teacher working conditions. According to its own survey of teachers, “unsustainable workloads are negatively impacting teachers and are the number one issue cited by those who recently left the profession.” Working conditions include items like a teacher’s workload, campus morale, discipline issues, and lack of adequate mental health support.

We can only imagine how everything from the pandemic to news of school shootings contribute to teachers feeling stressed out. They’re not only teaching our kids academics, they’re our kids’ confidantes, security guards, counselors, and lay-health professionals. That’s a lot — too much — for one person.

More counseling staff and security personnel are necessary, especially in certain urban and suburban school districts, to combat ongoing — and increasing — student behavioral issues. No teacher should have to stop facilitating a test to worry about how best to break up a fight between students.

If there is a downside, it’s that all these items cost money — a lot of it. But Abbott’s office has made a show of mentioning our state’s massive surplus this year. What better way to put it to use than to make a property tax cut and resolve so many of our teachers’ concerns.

It now rests on the legislature to follow through with these concepts and turn them from grievances and items on a wish list to things teachers a year from now will count as benefits. Resolving issues teachers have won’t immediately fix Texas’ teacher shortage and wider problems with our educational system, but it will be one more step toward a better education for our kids.

The task force did not mince words, when it came to its suggestions: “The Texas legislature, the [Texas Education Agency], and school systems should prioritize enacting and fully funding these recommendations to ensure that every Texas school is staffed with effective, supportive, and committed teachers,” the report read.

We couldn’t agree more.