Students are already struggling to meet the high cost of a college degree
| June 24, 2025 | Opinion, Education
New Jersey faces a critical teacher shortage that threatens the quality of education for millions of children in our state. Yet, in the midst of this crisis, we continue to expect aspiring educators to work full time in classrooms without pay during their student teaching internship — the most intensive and essential phase of their preparation. This requirement often prevents students from choosing education as a profession, as they are already struggling to meet the high cost of a college degree and cannot afford a full semester without working.
In 2023, New Jersey began offering scholarships to each student teacher at a New Jersey university who was a resident of the state. The initial amount was $3,000 and that increased to $4,500 the next year. Over the past two years, I have seen these funds have a tremendous impact on future teachers, including some that were working 30 hours a week and taking another college course while trying to meet the intense demands of the internship. In one case, a student shared that after reducing his work hours at a restaurant so that he could meet the requirements of his internship, he was struggling to eat enough because he often ate at his job. He could not pay for rent, tuition, transportation and food while working part time. When he received the scholarship funds, it saved him from either repeating student teaching or not becoming a teacher. There are countless similar stories around the state.
The current budget proposal will likely only provide scholarships of $1,500 this year, if they exist at all. If we want to recruit and retain talented teachers, we must continue to invest in their preparation.
It may seem that the colleges should provide the funds for these scholarships. However, most teachers are educated in public universities and New Jersey already has some of the most expensive public higher education tuition in the country. The colleges and universities, many of which are already struggling, cannot afford to provide these funds. Further, the state as a whole will derive significant benefits from investing in the teacher pipeline to guarantee an adequate supply of qualified and thoroughly prepared educators.
While a reduced stipend will still be appreciated by this year’s class of teacher candidates, the funds may not be enough to make a substantial difference in their economic stress. It also will not be enough to attract additional students to a career in education in our state. New Jersey needs a permanent commitment to support future teachers and a scholarship they can count on.
Providing scholarships for student teachers would be a strategic investment in the future of our schools. It would immediately expand the pipeline of qualified teacher candidates and ensure a more economically and racially diverse workforce. Other professions — from medicine to business — recognize the unfairness of unpaid internships. Teaching should be no different and many other states are addressing this.
Several states have already launched student teacher stipend programs, including Pennsylvania (up to $10,000) and Maryland ($20,000). These efforts acknowledge the obvious: We need more teachers and cannot afford to let financial barriers deter the next generation of educators.
The students of New Jersey deserve well-prepared, passionate educators. Our aspiring teachers deserve encouragement, support and a fair shot at entering the profession. Student teacher scholarships are not a handout; they are a recognition of their labor and a down payment on the strong, effective schools every child deserves.
New Jersey has been a leader in education and needs to continue to invest in our system. Let’s not let other states like Colorado and Pennsylvania pass us by in the quest to maintain and continually improve an excellent public education system. Please encourage your representatives to increase the currently proposed scholarship amount and make this a permanent program to recruit and support teachers.
Eileen Heddy is executive director of Support for Teacher Education Programs at The College of New Jersey.
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