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How the Teacher Shortage Became One of the Most Important Issues in Education

September 26, 2022

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Both teachers and students have faced several problems over the past two years—from dramatic healthcare concerns during the pandemic to the shift to remote and hybrid learning. Although these issues have impacted people differently, recent studies indicate that various teachers are now dealing with emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. K-12 workers are especially affected, and they have become the most burned-out group of the entire US labor force. As a consequence, more and more teachers are now quitting, thereby causing a shortage of educators that could dramatically impact education.

The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly fueled teachers’ concerns, and it has also exposed them to higher levels of stress. However, the healthcare crisis is not the only problem they are facing. According to The Texas Tribune, Texas schools are now facing a shortage of educators due to low salaries, insufficient benefits, and polarizing statewide politics that have plagued the sector for years—all issues that have also been aggravated by the pandemic. According to The Guardian, teachers in California report similar problems, with as many as 70% now considering quitting and 28% taking a second job just to get by.

Interestingly, this crisis and its consequences seem to be impacting regions and districts differently. 

Closing the Gap During the Teacher Shortage Crisis

According to The New York Times, although the healthcare crisis demonstrated the dramatic need for teachers in some areas of the country, not every US district is suffering from similar shortages. The demand for educators seems to be fueled by a complex set of factors that govern demand and supply in an overall tight job market. Different salaries and locations can easily explain why some schools attract more candidates, while others are facing teacher shortages. Other differences also matter, such as the fact that math teachers have always been harder to find, just like educators for rural schools. The pandemic seems to have increased and intensified all these inequities. 

It may be worth noting that the teacher shortage crisis is by no means new, and research points out that it might hide a simple explanation: the number of people graduating with a teaching credential may be insufficient to match new job openings. Not only does this explain why the crisis seems to hit certain fields more, but it also explains why the pandemic exacerbated the problem. The healthcare crisis is already known to have increased inequalities among Americans, so it comes as no surprise that it has also impacted schools differently.

Only by understanding the causes of the dramatic teacher shortage America is now facing can experts take the first steps toward solving the crisis. However, this may prove to be a complex issue in itself, as it could hide lingering causes like insufficient numbers of candidates and inequalities, as well as newer issues caused by the pandemic.

The Best Solutions for American Teachers

The US Department of Education recently announced new awards to help engage, qualify, develop, and maintain a strong educator workforce through the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant program. This investment includes 22 new five-year grants amounting to $24.8 million. Grants will be awarded to higher education institutions and national nonprofits, including three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and one minority-serving institution (MSI). Not only are the grants meant to support American teachers, but they are also developed to provide equal opportunities and to promote diversity among teachers.

This is just one of the measures developed by the Biden Administration to strengthen the teaching profession and to support American schools. Policymakers have also committed to creating new job platforms that will help people around the country find the best opportunities in education. Strengthening unions and organizations is also an important new decision that could promote high-quality pathways for future educators. Moreover, to help teachers who are struggling with financial difficulties, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was modified earlier this year. Although temporary, these measures can now help educators access the loans they need.

While the teacher shortage crisis is now one of the most important issues in education, the good news is that policymakers, talent recruitment and job platforms, as well as unions and organizations throughout the country have joined forces to find effective solutions to this problem.