Creating a scholarship program could help Ohio bolster its teacher pipeline

Last year, the state budget set aside $20 million for the Governor’s Merit Scholarship. This program, which officially launched in December, aims to incentivize Ohio’s top high school graduates to remain in Ohio to attend college rather than enrolling in universities out of state. State leaders designed the program in light of data indicating that more than a third of Ohio’s highest-achieving high school graduates attend college in another state each year, and roughly two-thirds of all college students stay to work in the state from which they graduate. This scholarship could help convince talented high school grads to stay in the Buckeye State. But with a little tweaking, it could also help bolster Ohio’s teacher pipeline.

Under current law, the Governor’s Merit Scholarship provides up to $20,000 in financial assistance over four years to seniors in Ohio’s public and private high schools[1] who graduate in the top 5 percent of their class.[2] The scholarship can be used to cover not just tuition and fees, but also other educational expenses, such as books, room and board, or transportation costs. By expanding it to provide an additional $5,000 per year—making the scholarship worth $40,000 total over the course of four years—to students who pursue teaching degrees at an accredited college or university in the state, Ohio could incentivize its best and brightest to teach.

Limiting eligibility to high-performing students is important, as research indicates that teachers who were excellent students produce high student achievement. But there are several other reasons why policymakers should consider this expansion.

First, research indicates that having student debt can motivate graduates to choose substantially higher-salary jobs and, as a result, reduce the likelihood that they will choose to work in “low-paid, public interest” jobs like education. Establishing a statewide scholarship program aimed at making college more affordable for prospective teachers could help, as it would cover the majority of tuition and fees at several public colleges and universities—including Kent State University, Ohio State University, and Wright State University. Students would still need to cover the cost of room and board. But with other financial-aid options available (like the federal TEACH grant, Pell grants, the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, or college-specific scholarships), future teachers could have a significant chunk of their college education paid for.

Second, making college more affordable for prospective teachers could help address teacher shortages. It’s difficult to grasp the true size and scope of Ohio’s shortages because the state doesn’t (but should) collect data on teacher vacancies. But the data that are available point to several problems, including that fewer young people are entering the profession. A host of possible reasons explain this decline, including concerns about low pay that are compounded by the looming specter of student loan debt. An increasing number of teenagers are deciding to forgo college, and nationally representative surveys of high school students indicate that cost is the primary reason why. Mitigating some of those costs is crucial for talented students who could succeed in college but are choosing to steer clear because of student loans.

Third, there’s evidence that state-funded scholarship programs like this can have a positive impact. The Choose Ohio First scholarship program was created in 2007 to help strengthen Ohio's competitiveness within STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. It does so by awarding funding to Ohio colleges and universities, which then provide competitive scholarships and work-based learning experiences to students who are seeking a certificate or associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree in eligible STEM disciplines. Thanks in part to this program, the number of STEM degrees awarded at Ohio’s public colleges and universities has increased from over 26,000 total students in 2008 to more than 39,000 total students in 2023.

Given the outsized importance of teachers to Ohio’s future, state policymakers should consider adding one important caveat to the program: Students who receive a teacher scholarship must work in an Ohio school for at least five years once they’ve graduated. As the U.S. Department of Education does with TEACH Grant recipients, those who leave the classroom prior to meeting their obligation will have the teacher portion of their scholarship converted to loan. In Ohio, the converted loan could be prorated according to how many years the individual spent in the classroom. For example, a teacher who taught for three years before leaving the classroom would only be required to repay 40 percent of their scholarship amount.

To bolster Ohio’s teacher pipeline, state leaders and lawmakers need to develop a comprehensive package of incentives and initiatives. Establishing a teacher scholarship program is an important first step, as it could help encourage Ohio’s best and brightest students to pursue teaching careers. Moreover, it would send a clear message that policymakers are paying attention to the teacher pipeline—and that they’re willing to invest in it because they recognize the value of teachers.