A Look at Solutions to Teacher Shortages

Teacher shortages are a growing problem that affects communities around the world. The United States is not immune to this crisis. Reports show the shortage of teachers is on the rise in the U.S., after already increasing sharply over the past several years.

According to Devlin Peck, there are more than 36,500 teacher vacancies in the United States. To make matters worse, 35 percent of surveyed teachers said they were planning to leave the profession in the next two years.

The problem is not contained to one region or state in our country. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 2023, 86% of U.S. K-12 public schools reported difficulty hiring teachers for the 2023 and 2024 school year. 45% of schools surveyed also said they felt they were understaffed. While all states are struggling, a 2022 study by Annenburg University found that Florida, Illinois and Arizona were facing the highest vacancy numbers.

Furthermore, societies around the globe struggle with shortages of qualified teachers. Data from UNESCO Institute for Statistics shows that 33 countries will not have enough qualified teachers to educate all children by 2030. Luckily, clear causes are emerging that can help lead us to solutions.

Causes of Teacher Shortages

The direct causes of teacher shortages are difficult to pinpoint because they differ depending on location. There are also differences in subject area shortages from state to state. However, there are certain disciplines where teacher shortages seem to be more consistently widespread. For example, in both 2023 and 2024 80% of U.S. states reported shortages in special education teachers.

Compounding these shortages is that most teachers aren’t staying in the profession long. More than half of teachers leave the education field within their first five years in the United States. The Learning Policy Institute pointed to a few reasons for the teacher shortage, including:

• Salaries: Low pay influences teacher turnover. Educators are more likely to quit in districts that offer low wages, and 67 percent of teachers rated an increase in salary as “extremely” or “very important” to their decision to return to teaching.
• Costs to Entry: Teachers who are not fully prepared are more likely to leave. But the rising costs of education and certification keep many people from entering teaching careers with the proper credentials.
• Hiring Processes: Many schools and districts use outdated technology and hire teachers late in the year, giving them less time to prepare for the role and leading to the appointment of ill-equipped teachers.
• Working Conditions: The quality of administrative support is the top reason that teachers cite for leaving or staying in the profession. Opportunities for collaboration are also important, as well as accountability. Schools with plenty of resources and reasonable student-to-teacher ratios can better attract and retain teachers.

It’s clear that changes will have to be made to address the teacher shortage crisis. Across the nation and globe, communities are experimenting with ways to address the shortage of teachers.

Solutions to Teacher Shortages

Around the world, groups have tried various teacher shortage solutions. Although the reasons for deficiencies differ from place-to-place, these tactics may help alleviate the teacher shortage crisis. Here’s how some policymakers, business leaders and school districts are taking the teacher shortage head on.

Virtual Staffing

Some schools are beginning to use technology as a solution to the teacher shortage crisis. One of the most widespread solutions has been experimenting with virtual staffing to meet their continually growing demand for teachers.

This tactic can also be helpful for keeping qualified educators teaching during natural disasters. After flooding in St. Helena, Louisiana, schools incorporated virtual staffing to help support teachers who were temporarily displaced or forced to relocate after losing their homes. This helped them avoid the need for long-term substitute teachers.

Because of technology, virtual staffing allows teachers and students to communicate in real time, even if they can’t be in the same place. This helps incentivize teachers to work in areas they wouldn’t have otherwise considered and cuts relocation costs.

Housing Incentives

When virtual means aren’t used, relocation and housing costs can hit teachers hard, especially in areas where teaching salaries are low. Some areas are combating that with housing incentives.

In 2017, Battle Creek, Michigan received a $1.5 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg foundation for entrepreneurs in struggling neighborhoods. This grant included $750,000 to put toward a housing incentive program for teachers and administrators who commit to the district for three years and live in eligible neighborhoods. This program not only helps reduce the financial burden for teachers relocating to their district but may also help decrease turnover.

Organizations like The Good Neighbor Next Door program aim to make teaching jobs more attractive by providing homes at a steep discount. The Good Neighbor Next Door sells homes for 50% off their appraised value, making buying a home a much more realistic goal for those in the teaching profession.

Tutoring for Certification

Incentives and creative staffing won’t help if teachers can’t get certified. In many states, teachers must pass the Praxis exams with high scores. The tests measure knowledge in a variety of subjects and are challenging and costly to take.

A nonprofit called Regional Initiatives for Sustainable Education (RISE) offers tutoring for the Praxis, which for many aspiring teachers is much needed given the intense nature of the exams. This Delta-based program is extremely vital in Mississippi where many teachers are lacking certification.

National Education Association (NEA) also provides Praxis resources like teacher preparation programs. This can help remove another potential barrier, bringing more qualified teachers into the school system and improving shortages.

Redefining Teaching

In Finland, annual opinion polls repeatedly show teaching as the country’s most admired profession. In fact, primary school teaching is the most sought career in the country. Why? There’s a  competitive selection process, like that of law programs or medical school programs. The country also pays special attention to the working conditions of teachers. Qualified teachers have the space to be autonomous, collaborate and engage in research and curriculum design.

In Singapore, teaching is also a highly respected and attractive profession with salaries like that of the nation’s accountants and engineers. There, aspiring teachers often receive salaries throughout their preparation courses. The country recruits teachers from the top third of high school graduates. By paying teachers appropriately and making education affordable, Singapore has been able to hire enough teachers to reduce class sizes and allow teachers to take time for professional development.

Hiring Processes

Even with the best working conditions, recruitment processes must be revamped in education systems around the world. Many Canadian provinces are experiencing widespread teacher shortages, including British Columbia. The province found that difficulty attracting new teachers was part of the problem, especially in rural areas. The government allocated $1.6 million to help update teacher application management systems and coordinate national and international recruiting.

In the United States, the Center for American Progress examined school districts’ human capital systems and made the following recommendations to improve teacher recruitment:

• Devote more time to intentional recruitment.
• Include performance measures in application processes.
• Provide new teachers with opportunities to build their skills.
• Implement professional learning systems.
• Prioritize diversity and develop strategies to attract teachers of color.

These are just a few of the solutions to teacher shortages. Teacher shortage statistics show that these tactics and many more will be vital in the years to come as shortages of qualified teachers continue to increase.

Be Part of the Teacher Shortage Solution

The worldwide shortage of teachers won’t be solved overnight. It will take numerous professionals with creative ideas to get enough qualified teachers back in classrooms. The industry needs professionals with a deep understanding of the issues affecting communities to tackle this challenge and be part of the budding solutions taking off at home and around the world.

If you’re interested in developing policies and instituting organizational change that will address teacher shortages, consider earning your doctorate in education online from the University of West Alabama.

The EdD in Rural Education from UWA Online helps candidates gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and issues in rural education, including the teacher shortage crisis. This one-of-a-kind program offers an Organizational Change and Leadership track designed for instructional leaders, program directors and other changemakers ready to drive innovation in rural education.