Briefs

Recruitment and retention challenges are once again leading to teacher shortages across the nation, especially in urban and rural school districts. This brief looks at the teacher residency model, a promising approach to addressing recruitment and retention challenges in high-needs districts and in shortage subject areas. The teacher residency model creates long-term benefits for districts, for schools, and ultimately and most importantly, for the students they serve.

As teacher shortages once again become widespread in California and across the nation, discussions of how to recruit and retain high-quality teachers are occupying center stage in policy circles. Newly emerging residency programs offer an innovative approach to recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers. Currently, the state has at least 10 such programs meeting critical hiring needs for a number of districts and charter schools in urban and rural areas.

After many years of teacher layoffs in California, school districts are using an influx of new k–12 funding to hire again. However, the supply of teachers has not kept pace with the increased demand. This brief and corresponding report examine shortage indicators, discuss their impact on students, analyze factors that influence teacher supply and demand in California and nationally, and recommend policies to ensure an adequate supply of fully prepared teachers where they are needed.

Throughout the summer and into the fall of 2015, school districts across the state struggled to fill vacant teaching positions with qualified staff. In fall of 2015, a Field Poll of California voters revealed that Californians are well aware of the emerging shortage of K-12 public school teachers and think the state should take decisive action to rectify the situation.