There is growing concern many older, vulnerable teachers and staff will opt to retire rather than return to classrooms this fall. This may prove problematic for districts that try to retain teachers during recessions as hiring freezes are often implemented.
If older, veteran teachers opt to stay out of the school building until a reliable vaccine is available, the nation could face a massive teacher shortage. About 56% of the teaching workforce is 40 years old or older, with 31% at age 50 or older, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
