Most states report teacher shortages
2 min read
[ad_1]
At the very least 39 states, Washington, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands say they are enduring ongoing instructor shortages, in accordance to a study by ABC News. Some officers are calling it a crisis and just one state adopted four-working day faculty weeks to assist, but Jess Gartner, founder and CEO of Allovue, states the shortages are “far more pushed by the creation of new positions than a mass exodus of current employees.”
[ad_2]
Source website link Schools across the United States are increasingly facing a growing shortage of qualified teachers. A recent report from the Learning Policy Institute, a nonprofit education research organization, states that nearly 40% of states report that they have “ teacher shortages” in certain subjects or geographical areas, with nearly two-thirds of states identifying shortages in special education, mathematics, and science.
Research has shown that teacher shortages can lead to larger class sizes, a lack of qualified teachers, and an overall lack of resources. A shortage of teachers can impede students’ learning and progress, as evidenced by recent research conducted by the Institute of Education Sciences.
The Learning Policy Institute attributes the teacher shortage in part to a number of factors, including increased student enrollment, the decrease in the number of teachers entering the profession, and high teacher attrition. In a 2018 survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly a third of new teachers quit within five years of entering the profession, with the majority citing inadequate schools, large classes, and low salaries as the primary factors for their departure.
To address the teacher shortage, the Institute recommends that states increase teacher compensation, provide incentives for educators to come back to the profession, and invest in local infrastructure to “support, retain, and develop” teachers.
Recently, several states have begun to take action. In 2019, Connecticut passed legislation allowing districts to raise teachers’ salaries and hire more teachers in an effort to reduce class sizes. California has also increased funding for new teacher recruitment efforts and recently implemented legislation that reduces class sizes in high-need areas.
The teacher shortage is an urgent situation that demands attention, and state and local governments are beginning to take steps to stem the tide. With further investment and support from states, districts can ensure that all students have access to the quality education that they deserve.
