Are Teacher Shortages Turning Around? The Surprising Answer Is Yes

I’ve got good news, and I’ve got bad news. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. (And if you just don’t need it, skip down two paragraphs.) Increasing numbers of teachers have left education, citing burnout and a lack of support. At least 300,000 public-school teachers and other staff left the field between February 2020 and May 2022, and, for the past decade, fewer people have chosen to teach.

Despite how important teachers of color are to the success of all students and especially students of color, the U.S. teaching force is still only 20% non-white, and reports indicate that teachers of color are leaving at higher rates than their white counterparts.

Unwilling or unable to get at the root causes of the teacher shortage, states are calling on the National Guard, veterans, custodians and bus drivers to teach. Some states, including Arizona and Florida, announced they are lowering or eliminating job requirements for teachers entirely. Staffing shortages are greatest in high-stakes subjects like science, math, and special education.

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