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Keystone Policy Center has released a new report revealing that rural teachers across the country are struggling with salaries that fail to meet the cost of living, exacerbating teacher shortages and threatening the quality of education in rural communities.
The report, titled Insufficient at any Altitude: Rural Teacher Salaries in Colorado, provides an in-depth analysis of compensation trends for rural educators, highlighting significant pay disparities compared to their urban and suburban counterparts. The findings show that stagnant wages, coupled with rising costs of living, are pushing qualified teachers away from rural school districts, leaving many communities with unfilled teaching positions and larger class sizes.
“Rural teachers are the backbone of their communities, yet many are forced to take on second jobs or leave the profession entirely due to inadequate pay,” said Van Schoales, senior policy director at Keystone Policy Center. “If we fail to address these salary gaps, we risk undermining the future of education in rural America.”
Key findings from the report include:
- Rural teachers earn significantly less than their urban and suburban counterparts, often making it difficult to afford housing, healthcare, and basic necessities.
- Many rural school districts struggle to attract and retain qualified educators due to low salaries and lack of financial incentives.
- Higher teacher turnover rates in rural areas negatively impact student performance and educational continuity.
The report also features powerful stories from rural educators who share firsthand experiences of financial struggles, job insecurity, and the sacrifices they make to continue teaching in their communities. These personal narratives provide a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by rural teachers and underscore the urgent need for policy changes.
“It’s incredibly challenging to retain anybody in this profession right now, because anybody can go anywhere and get a job that pays more,” Abby Pettinger, superintendent of the Vilas School District, said in the report. “They can easily go across the border over to Kansas and make close to $20,000 more.”
The report calls on policymakers, education leaders, and community stakeholders to take immediate action. The report outlines several recommendations, including increasing state and federal funding for rural schools, implementing salary incentives, and investing in professional development programs tailored for rural educators.
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