PHOENIX — Arizona is facing a critical teacher shortage with more teachers leaving the state than staying, according to the Arizona Department of Education.
State Superintendent Tom Horne told lawmakers his top priority is reversing the shortage in his State of Education speech Tuesday afternoon.
“We have got to turn around the situation, bring about equilibrium, so we’re not, we’re not losing more teachers than we’re gaining. We cannot continue doing that," Horne said.
About 8,000 teachers are leaving the classroom every year, according to Horne.
Leda Devlieger is one of them.
"It was a really, really hard decision," Devlieger said.
Devlieger quit her third-grade teaching job in 2022 because she wasn't making enough money to support her family.
“Ultimately, it boiled down to, as a single parent and a single income household, you really can’t afford to survive," Devlieger said.
Horne said he wants the state to raise teacher salaries. He's also advocating for a bill that would lower a district's letter grade if principals don't support teachers on behavioral issues.
Tyler Kowch, the communications manager of Save Our Schools Arizona, a grassroots-funded nonprofit, told 12News behavioral issues should be handled at the district level.
“We need to respect the decisions of our school board and the policies they put in place because they’re elected officials," Kowch said.
Horne also addressed proficiency levels, telling lawmakers that there are Arizona students reaching high school without the ability to read.
“I think it’s a scandal that we have reading teachers in high school," Horne said. "Kids go to school day after day, every day throughout the year, eight years and they still can’t read.”
Horne told 12News that the state currently holds back less than half a percent of students.
He expects that percentage could increase since the State Board of Education tightened loopholes in a provision that prevents students from advancing to fourth grade without being able to read.
“You’re ruining a kid’s life if you pass them on without learning to read," Horne said.
Opponents of Horne said they want to see his department follow through on what was talked about on Tuesday.
“He talks a lot about some of the right things like teachers, teacher pay and being concerned, but I don’t think that’s followed through in his actions at the Arizona Department of Education," Devlieger said.
Horne said the state currently only has the financial means to handle raises for teachers, leaving support staff to districts.
Save Our Schools Arizona wants to see raises across the board.
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