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Data show that about 1 in 8 of all teaching positions nationally are either unfilled or filled by teachers not fully certified for their assignments. Ongoing teacher shortages affect students in all types of districts. Local, state, and federal education leaders and policymakers can implement evidence-based solutions to build a strong and stable teacher workforce.
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An estimated 410,000-plus teaching positions—representing 1 in 8 of all teaching positions nationally—are either unfilled or filled by teachers not fully certified for their assignments, based on the most recent state-reported data. Because of variations in state policies, the severity of shortages and access to well-qualified teachers differs greatly from state to state.
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As a supplement to the State Teacher Shortages 2025 Update tool, this analyses includes data on the number of states reporting shortages by teaching area (i.e., special education, science, mathematics, language arts, etc.).
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LPI’s 2025 annual scan of teacher shortage data indicates that little has changed over the past year, with many schools continuing to face staffing challenges. However, with three years of data, there are some national patterns and state takeaways.
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Young people today show troubling signs of declining mental health, and more than half of children with mental health issues have an unmet need for mental health care. Schools rely on school counselors, psychologists, and community mental health providers to support students’ mental health; however, their ability to provide needed supports is strained.
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Not all school safety strategies are effective, and some can lead to unintended consequences. Existing research sheds light on the evidence base for two very different approaches to school safety and their effectiveness in creating safe schools.
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Each year, millions of students risk losing ground to the “summer slide”—a preventable drop in academic progress. But with the right policies, investments, and targeted practices, the summer can be turned from a setback into an opportunity.
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California State University, Bakersfield, operates a consortium of seven teacher residency programs, each partnering with one or more local education agencies. Researchers examined the Kern Urban Teacher Residency and the Teacher Residency for Rural Education to understand how residency models can be modified to meet the needs of both large urban and small rural districts.
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States face uncertainty as $6.2 billion in K–12 federal funding remains unreleased. If the U.S. Department of Education doesn’t distribute these funds by July 1, state educational agencies will need plans to help mitigate disruption to essential programs.
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Students have more positive and productive math learning experiences in classrooms that provide them with supportive relationships, a strong sense of belonging within the classroom and broader math community, and a firm conviction in their capacity to grow their mathematical abilities through experience and practice.
