Sweetening the deal for special-ed teachers

About half of all Utah special education teachers are working with an "emergency" licensure, and about half of all new special education teachers leave their jobs within the first five years.

The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee Monday heard those figures as Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove, R-Garland, made a plug for her bill, HB74, which requests $500,000 to fill a "critical" need in special education instruction.

The House Education Standing Committee is scheduled today to debate HB74, which proposes setting up a tuition reimbursement program to draw people into a special education career.

Under HB74 potential qualifying students would be offered a $500 sign-on bonus up front, with most of the beginning costs of becoming licensed in special education being borne by the student. Once students graduate they could be reimbursed for a full year's tuition for every year they teach in Utah, up to four years of refunds.

Several committee members expressed support for HB74.

"We've got to have some incentive," said Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Salt Lake. "I will really advocate for this."

But Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, said her intention is to "hold off" on supporting the bill until questions such as public education's involvement are answered.

Other issues that may impact whether the committee will recommend funding for HB74 include what happens to a request for $450,000 to fund the T.H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loan program. That money would be used to help fill critical needs for educators in math, science and special education.

Yet another bill, HB188, proposes that lawmakers find $2.9 million for a program that would "enhance" the pay of beginning teachers. Districts receiving money under the program would be required to establish "teacher mentoring" programs.

Overall, it's estimated that 33 percent of new regular education teachers leave within the first five years.

For some school districts, the stakes in special education are high.

The number of unlicensed special education teachers in Alpine, Granite, Nebo and Weber school districts is at 50 percent or higher, according to Menlove. Most have bachelor's degrees and are required within three years to enroll in and complete a teacher education program.

But the need in Utah for special education teachers is so great, schools aren't willing to wait for supply to catch up with demand and will hire special education teachers before they are fully licensed, according to Menlove.

The targets of HB74 are those who are older, already have a degree, have raised children, live in the community where special education teachers are needed and may be looking for a second career.

Students would have their choice of attending one of four public institutions or Brigham Young University or Westminster College. Reimbursement amounts under HB74 for private schools, however, would not exceed levels of public schools.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com