Staff Shortages
Education news, analysis, and opinion about challenges associated with having unfilled school or district staff positions.
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School & District Management
Staff Shortages Affect Students, Too. Here's Where Schools Are Shutting Down
A few months into the third academic year in a row disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, at least several dozen school buildings in numerous states have had to shut down due to inadequate staffing.
School & District Management
How Staff Shortages Are Crushing Schools
Teachers are sacrificing their planning periods, students are arriving hours late, meals are out of whack, and patience is running thin.
School & District Management
The Already Dire Substitute Shortage Could Get 'Worse Before It Gets Better'
School districts are trying all sorts of tactics, including increasing pay and relaxing requirements, to get more subs in classrooms.
Recruitment & Retention
From Our Research Center
How Bad Are School Staffing Shortages? What We Learned by Asking Administrators
More than two-thirds of administrators say they're telling existing staff to take on additional responsibilities.
Recruitment & Retention
Download
GUIDE: How Administrators Can Address Staff Shortages in Schools
The number of job openings in schools this year is daunting, but there are steps district leaders can take to keep operations running smoothly.
School & District Management
Summer School Is More Important Than Ever. But Teachers Are 'Fried' and Need a Break
Districts are getting creative about enticing worn-out teachers to stay on for the summer.
School & District Management
Can Schools Really Reopen in 100 Days? How Staffing Could Hobble Biden's Plan
President Biden's vow to reopen schools depends on one of the biggest uncertainties in K-12 right now: assembling enough staff to run them.
School & District Management
From Our Research Center
Schools Grapple With Substitute Teacher Shortages, Medical Leave Requests, Survey Finds
The demand for substitute teacher positions is outpacing the supply, and the quality of those applying is a concern in many places.
Recruitment & Retention
The Scramble to Find Substitute Teachers
Some districts are paying bonuses, some are lowering qualifications, and one is assigning central office staff to substitute at least one day per week.
Teaching Profession
Wanted: Teachers as Diverse as Their Students
Districts try "grow your own" programs to build an educator workforce that mirrors their changing student body.
Teaching Profession
The Push to Get More Teachers of Color in Special Education Classrooms
Eight in 10 special educators are white, but some teacher-preparation programs are working to make the field more diverse.
Recruitment & Retention
From Our Research Center
Shortage of Special Educators Adds to Classroom Pressures
Educating children with disabilities is among the most challenging pieces of the public school system’s mission—and regulations, funding, and legalities are just the start.
Recruitment & Retention
Video
Wisconsin Has a Teacher Shortage. These Superintendents Have Some Solutions
A new school year is underway and, once again, Wisconsin schools do not have qualified teachers in every classroom. Long-term substitute teachers and teachers with emergency certifications fill positions that would otherwise remain vacant. Declines in the number of young people entering the profession combined with high attrition rates have created new challenges for school leaders looking to build a strong teaching staff. We spoke with five Wisconsin superintendents from five very different districts to get a first-hand account of the strategies they employ to address critical shortages in the teaching force.