University of Northern Iowa Calculates Financial Benefits of Rural Student Teachers

Decorah Vikings win, City Council votes, New Referenda on the ballot — we're the one telling Decorah's story. Donate now. The University of Northern Iowa has developed a formula to calculate the financial benefit of student teachers practicing in rural areas. An internal study from the Cedar Falls university found the multi-year financial impact of student teachers in rural Iowa totals in the millions of dollars. According to a UNI news release, student teachers contributed an estimated $11.76 million in financial benefit between fall 2020 and 2024. UNI College of Education professor Nicole Skaar guided the study, which included faculty and contributors from the College of Education, College of Business and the Institute for Decision Making. "Putting an exact dollar value on the work of student teachers is difficult," Skaar said in the release. "Although they are still teachers in training, they contribute meaningfully to classroom instruction and create valuable space for licensed teachers to focus on essential educational work." UNI student teachers were placed in 1,787 rural schools during the four-year period. Researchers estimated the financial benefit using a formula that considered the number and duration of placements, along with a weekly value assigned to the work performed. The study found these placements generated just over $1.3 million in financial benefit each semester, or about $2.61 million annually. The release stated that student teachers in rural and underserved districts help support classroom instruction, reduce workloads for full-time teachers and provide continuity for students. "We challenged ourselves to think more intentionally about how UNI serves rural Iowa," said UNI College of Education Dean Colleen Mulholland. "It became clear that our student teachers are making a real difference statewide, and we wanted to better understand and communicate their impact." Your inbox, upgraded! Subscribe for free and enjoy handpicked stories, helpful advice, and local insights delivered weekly.