Rural Teachers Earn Significantly Less
Than Urban, Suburban Counterparts
Pay Gap Creates Hurdles for Schools Trying to Meet
"No Child Left Behind" Mandates, Report Says

The much publicized "No Child Left Behind" Act envisions a "highly qualified" teacher in every American classroom. It is a noble goal, to be sure, but according to a new report from the Rural School and Community Trust (Rural Trust), it is a goal that presents special challenges to already stressed rural schools struggling to recruit and retain qualified teachers. A severe teacher shortage, combined with rural teacher salaries that lag significantly behind those of urban and suburban teachers, will make it difficult to achieve the vision articulated in No Child Left Behind. The report, The Competitive Disadvantage: Teacher Compensation in Rural America, outlines the challenges in making sure that no rural children are left behind in the national quest for educational excellence.

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