Educators’ Attitudes toward the Profession Vary Significantly by State
AUSTIN, Texas, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — America’s teachers are finding reasons to be more optimistic about their profession, according to a new report on the state of the teaching profession released by Education Week at the SXSW-EDU Conference in Austin.
Overall, teacher morale has improved from just one year ago, a shift from recent years when teachers reported high levels of burnout and disillusionment. Yet even though teachers appear to feel more optimistic about their work, they are under pressure to keep pace with multiplying responsibilities and deepening student needs, the report finds.
Now in its second year, The State of Teaching report aims to portray the reality of today’s teaching profession, correct misconceptions, and help inform smarter policies and practices for the field of over 3 million educators working in K-12 schools.
According to the report, during the 2024-25 school year, the Teacher Morale Index, a year-over-year multifaceted gauge developed by the nonprofit Education Week, is +18 on a scale of -100 to +100, suggesting that teachers overall view their jobs more positively than negatively. The score rose significantly from last year’s -13.
“By reporting from classrooms across the country, we found that teachers served students not only with their specific expertise but also by being agile, adaptable and empathetic,” said Education Week Editor-in-Chief Beth Frerking. “Despite their many challenges, their resilience shone through.”
Based on in-depth reporting and surveys from schools around the country, the report features interactive charts showing the Teacher Morale Index score for each state and details five changes other than a pay raise that teachers say would be most likely to boost their morale. These include hiring more staff; shifts in school leadership approaches and styles; changes to school rules/policies; changes to schedules/calendars; and more money for non-staffing-related needs.
The report found that teacher morale levels vary significantly by state. Teachers in Georgia have the highest score on the Teacher Morale Index at +47. At the other end of the spectrum, New Hampshire has the lowest score at -14. The report also describes differences in teacher morale by gender, race/ethnicity, and age.
“Teachers are the heart of our schools and key to scholar success,” said Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene of Jackson Public Schools in Jackson, Miss. “Their dedication, passion, and resilience help shape the future, one child at a time. As education leaders and supporters, it is our responsibility to remain connected to their experiences, to understand their challenges, to provide the needed support, and to celebrate the impact that teachers make every day. When we listen to and uplift our teachers, we strengthen our schools, empower our scholars, and build a brighter future.”
The report is available at https://www.edweek.org/the-state-of-teaching.
The State of Teaching Project is supported by grants from the Charles Butt Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation. Coverage of teachers and the teaching profession is also made possible by general operating support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The 50-state data collection was made possible through a partnership with MCH Strategic Data.
Since 1981, Education Week has been America’s most trusted resource for nonpartisan K-12 education news and information. A nonprofit organization, teachers, principals, and district leaders nationwide turn to us for the most up-to-date information on K-12 education, as well as innovative, high-value tools and solutions. Learn more at www.edweek.org.
Contact: Robyn Miller-Tarnoff, rmiller@educationweek.org, 301-280-3187
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SOURCE Education Week
