Staff Shortages
Education news, analysis, and opinion about challenges associated with having unfilled school or district staff positions
Teaching Profession
Will a J-1 Visa Freeze Disrupt Teacher Staffing?
A federal pause on appointments for J-1 visas could affect districts, which have used international teachers to fill staffing holes.
Recruitment & Retention
Will Fired Federal Workers Consider Teaching? Some Schools May Soon Find Out
Thousands of federal employees face unemployment. Some states and districts see an opportunity to recruit skilled workers to the classroom.
Teaching Profession
Teacher Burnout Is Real. What's to Blame—and How to Keep It at Bay
Teachers share their tips for avoiding burnout.
Recruitment & Retention
What the Research Says
Teacher Shortages Are Improving—With Two Big Exceptions
New job posting data suggests staffing support needs to be targeted at particular areas.
Recruitment & Retention
CTE Grows in Popularity Among Students, But Teachers Are Tough to Find
As career and technology education becomes more popular among students, schools struggle to fill teaching vacancies.
School & District Management
3 Big Challenges School Lunch Programs Face as They Feed Students
School nutrition directors report problems with costs, supply shortages, and staffing.
Recruitment & Retention
What the Research Says
What 4 New Studies Say About How Districts Can Attract—and Retain—Teachers
New insights on teachers' starting salaries, working conditions, and contract work can help leaders better hire and retain teachers.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Student Loan Debt Is an Overlooked Crisis in Teacher Education
If we want to make the teaching profession a more attractive career pathway, we need to do something about debt.
Teacher Preparation
Then & Now
Why We Still Haven't Solved Teacher Shortages (Despite Decades of Trying)
The teacher-shortage discourse has a long history—and no perfect solutions.
Recruitment & Retention
Schools Have Fewer Teacher Vacancies This Year. But Hiring Is Still Not Easy
Schools struggled less to fill teaching positions in the 2024-25 school year, but they still started the year with vacant teaching spots.
Recruitment & Retention
Q&A
Schools Can't Find Enough Teachers. A New Federal Center Aims to Help
The U.S. Department of Education's research agency has launched a new center focused on improving teacher staffing and retention.
Recruitment & Retention
Quiz
Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Teacher Retention & Recruitment?
Answer 7 questions about teacher retention and recruitment.
Recruitment & Retention
Q&A
How This District Lowered Its Teacher Vacancy Rate to Almost Zero
Knox County schools in Tennessee has a multifaceted strategy to hire and retain more teachers.
School & District Management
Schools Don't Have Enough Bus Drivers to Start the School Year—Again
Bus driver shortages have worsened nationwide since 2020. Many districts are still scrambling to find enough people to transport students.