OPPORTUNITY

In 2022, Alabama’s state legislature committed $14 million over five years to establish new UTeach secondary STEM teacher preparation programs at six universities, while continuing to support an existing UTeach program at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

STRONG RETURN ON INVESTMENT

UTeach programs have been shown to produce well-prepared middle and high school mathematics teachers who stay in teaching longer and improve student performance in mathematics and science. How will UTeach‘s success improve the STEM workforce in the whole state of Alabama?

The UTeach Institute partnered with the Bureau of Business Research at the IC² Institute at The University of Texas at Austin to create an economic model to estimate the return on investment (ROI) of Alabama’s UTeach programs over the next 10 years, 2025–2034.

The study found that by 2034, the end of the analysis period, Alabama’s investment will be fully recovered, and the income from the expanded STEM workforce will contribute $11 million in annual benefits to the state. Plus, the state will realize almost $1 million in cost savings from reduced teacher attrition, since UTeach graduates typically remain in the classroom longer than the average teacher.  The study’s bottom line: Alabama’s investment in UTeach will deliver educational and economic value and a positive ROI.

Read the full study

Contacts

Kimberly Hughes
Director, UTeach Institute
hughes@uteach.utexas.edu

Matt Kammer-Kerwick
Director, Bureau of Business Research at the IC² Institute
mattkk@ic2.utexas.edu