Support Staff Beats Salary Increases, Teachers Say

While compensation matters to teachers, working conditions might matter just as much, according to a new survey from Education Next. Asking teachers to compare hypothetical job offers, the most attractive work environments had at least one counselor on staff and at least two additional sources of support, such as a nurse, instructional coach, or special education co-teacher or aide.

An overwhelming majority of teachers described such supports as “beneficial” or “extremely beneficial” when asked to rate special education co-teachers (93 percent) and para-professionals (92 percent), counselors (89 percent), and school nurses (88 percent). Analysis revealed that the average teacher would be willing to trade a 21 percent raise for full-time support from a special ed co-teacher, or an 18 percent raise for a full-time special education aide.

Providing supports can cost districts less than salary increases. For example, teachers would trade a $6,734 salary increase to work at a school with a full-time counselor, Education Next says, which costs an average of $2,475 per teacher supported.

“These insights suggest that school and district leaders should prioritize the hiring and retention of support staff that make classroom jobs more attractive and should consider bene-fits beyond pay raises to attract and retain teachers,” the report says.