Teacher departures make schools scramble

INDIANAPOLIS » With many teachers opting out of returning to the classroom because of the coronavirus, U.S schools are scrambling to find replacements, and some are lowering certification requirements to help get substitutes in the door.

Several states have seen surges in educators filing for retirement or taking leaves of absence. The departures are straining staff in places dealing with shortages of teachers and subs even before the pandemic created an education crisis.

Teachers in at least three states have died after bouts with the coronavirus since the start of the new school year. It’s unclear how many teachers in the U.S. have become ill with COVID-19, but Mississippi alone reported 604 cases among teachers and staff.

Teachers exposed to the virus could face pressure to return. The Trump administration has declared them to be “critical infrastructure workers” in guidance that could give the green light to exempting them from quarantine requirements.