Fact Sheets

February 8, 2017 | The passage of Proposition 58 in November 2016 removes restrictions on bilingual education in California, creating new educational opportunities, especially for the state’s 1.4 million English learners. This fact sheet analyzes the state’s supply of bilingual teachers in light of the expected increase in bilingual and dual-language immersion programs.

January 26, 2017 | School districts throughout California are experiencing teacher shortages at alarming rates, according to the results of a Fall 2016 survey conducted by the Learning Policy Institute and the California School Boards Association. Seventy-five percent of districts responding reported shortages, with 81% saying the problem is getting worse. This fact sheet provides an overview of survey results, including information about shortage areas and district responses to the teacher shortage.

November 30, 2016 | Many districts face teacher shortages that threaten their ability to deliver a quality education to all children. Rather than implementing short-term fixes that often rely on underprepared or out-of-field teachers, policymakers at all levels should look to the research for strategies that are effective at building a high-quality and sustainable teaching workforce. This fact sheet, based on a comprehensive review of the research on teacher recruitment and retention policies, identifies district policies that can ease shortages, while also prioritizing student learning and a strong teacher workforce.

October 26, 2016 | Providing all students with excellent educators is one of the most important drivers of a well-functioning education system—a system that must prepare diverse students to participate in today’s knowledge-driven economy. However, many states are facing a teacher shortage that threatens their ability to deliver a quality education to all children. Shortages are most severe in certain fields (special education, math, science, and bilingual education) and in high-poverty districts and schools, where students most need highly skilled teachers.

June 29, 2016 | During the 2015–16 fiscal year, states invested nearly $7 billion in programs for our country’s youngest learners. This fact sheet summarizes the lessons learned by a review and analysis of how states can design, fund, and manage investments to assure high-quality preschool. The original report looked at how four states built quality early education systems with strong outcomes.