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12/2/2025
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Rep. O’Brien urges teacher pension reform to attract new teachers amid teacher shortage
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STATE HOUSE – Rep. William W. O’Brien is urging teacher pension reform to address the state’s alarming teacher shortage. He believes that Rhode Island’s state pension system needs to be more in line with Massachusetts and Connecticut to recruit and retain new teachers. More specifically, Representative O’Brien will propose legislation that would allow teachers, and other public-sector workers, to retire without reduced benefits if their age and years of service add up to 85.
“Our state’s teacher shortage is a critical issue that will negatively impact current and future students if this problem is not solved. And a big cause of why Rhode Island has a teacher shortage is the pension system that’s offered. To look at it simply, issues with the teacher pension system is a math problem that needs to be solved for the sake of our kids,” said Representative O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence).
Representative O’Brien notes that one of the biggest obstacles to attracting new teachers is the number of years required to work until they receive a pension, often until a teacher reaches their mid to late sixties.
“Everyone knows that money is tight these days and the financial situations for our school districts and teachers is no different. But, without new teachers paying into the pension system, our current and future retirees will also be in dire straits. Every time a teacher retires, the school district saves $70,000, so if 100 teachers retire, that’s a $7 million savings. But, since we require our teachers to work far longer than neighboring states, we are not only missing out on these savings but also failing to attract the next generation of teachers. If we solve the math problem of pension reform, our teacher shortage issue will also be corrected,” said Representative O’Brien.
“Recruitment has become increasingly competitive, especially in New England, and young teachers often compare retirement systems across state lines before committing to a long-term career in a district. Earlier full-benefit eligibility could make Rhode Island more appealing to new educators who worry about the long wait time for full pension benefits, and improved pension competitiveness could expand the pool of candidates, allowing districts like North Providence to fill vacancies more quickly, diversify hiring, and reduce reliance on long-term substitutes,” added North Providence School Superintendent Joseph Goho.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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