In December of 2019 the US Department of Labor confirmed that the number of teachers that schools across the country are short is 300,000. If the E Squared Group projections of 3.5 million teachers retiring at a 20 percent rate holds true, in 5 years we are looking at a 1.5 million teacher shortage. To put that another way, that means in every private, public and charter school building there will be 13 teacher vacancies.
Based on research that E Squared Group did 4 years ago, it is apparent that small and rural schools will feel the impact first. Executive directors of state small and rural school associations confirm this to be true. And it’s not just math, science, and special education where there is a shortage. Just two weeks before the start of school, many principals are still looking for kindergarten teachers.
So, what’s a superintendent or a principal to do? There are many steps you can take, but none is the magic panacea. Current available remedies include:
