Every day, nearly 1,000 teachers leave the field of teaching, according to a report by the Alliance for Excellent Education, a research and advocacy organization for the education industry.An additional thousand teachers change schools in pursuit of better working conditions. The cost of replacing public-school teachers leaving the profession totals $2.2 billion each year, according to the report.And nearly half of all teachers who enter the field leave it within five years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.”Beginning teachers cite various reasons for leaving the profession from working conditions, lack of support, student behavior problems, family needs,” said Patricia Exner, associate dean of the College of Education, in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille. The number of students interested in studying education seems to be on the rise despite these fluctuating teaching conditions, Exner said.”We’ve seen many students become interested in teaching, particularly at the secondary level, after discovering their first academic program choice doesn’t mesh with their interests or abilities,” Exner said. The education world is taking notice of the need for teachers, as well. Beginning pay is becoming increasingly competitive in grade-school districts. The average starting pay in East Baton Rouge Parish for beginning teachers with a bachelor’s degree was $20,549 in 1995, according to figures published by the Louisiana Department of Education. For the 2009-10 school year, the average starting pay was $43,536. And more competitive pay is being established at an appropriate time, as national education trends continue to fluctuate.Statistics show as more teachers change professions, more middle and high school students are at significant risk of dropping out of school. One-third of entering ninth-grade students will drop out of high school before attaining a diploma, according to 2001 research by Harvard University. “Sharing with children and young people the excitement of learning and discovery is one of the most rewarding experiences possible,” Exner said. “But obviously the current economic situation and resulting loss of jobs impacts many families … which can impact [students’] performance in schools.” But national education programs are looking to combat struggling professional standards.Since its inception in 1990, Teach for America has seen more than 24,000 potential educators agree to teach in low-income schools for a minimum of two years, according to the organization’s Web site.”If I wanted to teach, [Teach for America] would be something I’d consider,” said Laurel Johnson, general studies senior.Students from any academic major and career interest can apply to become a part of the organization. —-Contact Matthew Jacobs at [email protected].