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Report Lists Arizona as the Sixth Worst State to be a Teacher

mashable.com

If the ongoing political debates about education funding have not convinced you, a new study might: this state is the sixth worst place in the nation to be a teacher. Arizona Public Radio’s Howard Fischer explains.

The report by WalletHub says the average starting salary for Arizona teachers, less than $32,000 a year, is the 44th lowest of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia. And, that ranking comes even after accounting for the lower cost of living here than many other places. It’s also not great for those who stay in the profession, the study says, with median salaries for all Arizona teachers at No. 48, also measured against the cost of living. Jill Gonzales, a staffer at the personal finance website, said those numbers matter, especially when it comes to recruiting.

“If this is a teacher right out of school looking for somewhere to teach, it might matter more to them than someone with a family and who can support themselves in other ways or with other people in part of their families,” Gonzales said.

The report also cites National Education Association figures showing Arizona spends about $1,250 per state resident on K-12 education. Only Idaho comes in lower. And, the state’s pupil-to-teacher ratio is at more than 21 to 1. That compares with a nationwide average of less than 17.

“If I have a child I know struggles with learning, then that’s definitely something I want in consideration. But if not, then it won’t matter as much to me,” Gonzales said.

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