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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.
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Seventy-five percent of districts responding to a Fall 2016 survey reported teacher shortages, with 81% saying the problem is getting worse. This brief details the results of the survey, conducted by the Learning Policy Institute and the California School Boards Association, including information about how districts are responding to shortages.
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A Fall 2016 survey of California school districts reveals that the state’s teacher shortage has reached alarming levels, with 75% of surveyed districts indicating there are too few qualified teachers to fill their teaching vacancies. Teacher shortages leave districts with high rates of vacancies and force them to rely on underprepared teachers and substitutes, increase class sizes, and assign teachers outside of their areas of training. To better address shortages, particularly in high-need fields and schools, the state and districts will need to develop a variety of evidence-based strategies that can be targeted to meet the needs of different communities.
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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.
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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.
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On September 15th, the Learning Policy Institute released a report on teacher supply and demand that examines the data behind shortages that are emerging in a number of areas around the country. This blog responds to questions about the size and nature of teacher shortages and reinforces the importance of evidence-based solutions that ensure every student is taught by a well-qualified and supported teacher.
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This brief summarizes an analysis of the scope of teacher shortages being experienced throughout the country and discusses the causes and consequences of the shortages. Shortages are particularly severe in special education, mathematics, science, and bilingual/English learner education, and in locations with lower wages and poorer working conditions. This brief also provides recommendations of local, state, and federal policies to support the recruitment and retention of a quality teacher workforce.
Anne PodolskyTara KiniJoseph BishopLinda Darling-Hammond
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High rates of teacher turnover contribute to shortages and undermine academic progress. This report reviews an extensive body of research on teacher recruitment and retention, identifies key factors that influence decisions to enter, stay in, or leave the profession, and offers evidence-based recommendations for local, state, and federal policymakers.
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How states experience the teacher shortage depends on their unique mix of policies, conditions, and even cost of living. This interactive map provides a state-by-state look at key indicators of teacher supply and demand and the equitable distribution of teachers. States and the District of Columbia receive a teaching attractiveness rating, based on compensation, teacher turnover, working conditions, and qualifications, and a teacher equity rating, based on the distribution of uncertified and inexperienced teachers.
Anne PodolskyTara KiniJoseph BishopLinda Darling-Hammond
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Fewer young people choosing to enter the teaching profession and high attrition rates are contributing to teacher shortages. School districts throughout the country are having difficulty finding enough qualified teachers to fill open positions, especially in schools serving low-income students and students of color. This brief summarizes research on teacher recruitment and retention, identifies key factors that influence decisions to enter, stay in, or leave the profession, and offers evidence-based recommendations for policymakers.
