Adressing the teacher shortage
Consider three facts: New teacher certifications in Pennsylvania fell by 66% in the 2010s to about 17,000 a year; the pandemic pushed many teachers to retire earlier; and the number of emergency permits that allow non-certified teachers to sub has more than doubled in the past several years.
These three facts indicate a rapidly worsening shortage of teachers and a desperate attempt to solve the problem with substitutes.
Legislators are scrambling. State Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, has introduced legislation that would create easier pathways for interested high schoolers to start their education and certification process free. It would also fund diversity in teaching programs at colleges and compel the Department of Education to collect and publish data and goals regarding teacher recruitment.
The bill could help attract new talent, which is key. It’s a good first step, but it covers only half of the problem. Retention for certified teachers must also be a top priority.
Around the country, teachers are departing the profession in record numbers due to burnout related to COVID-19 and constantly shifting mandates.
Many schools have opted to use federal relief funding to provide retention bonuses, sometimes worth thousands of dollars, to teachers and staff.
Pennsylvania should follow suit, but only with federal funding as a one-time gesture. Merely throwing money at the problem won’t address long-standing issues, but it could help persuade teachers on the fence to stick it out a while longer.
The state also adjusted the requirements in 2021 for substitute teachers to make it easier for schools to find qualified subs, allowing retired teachers and eligible college graduates to sub. The changes were wise. The number of emergency permits issued for subs jumped from about 9,000 in the 201415 academic year to 18,457 in 2019-20, though many districts are still experiencing shortages.
Lawmakers should take full advantage of the growing substitute pool. Providing a simple, direct path that leads from substitute teaching to a full-time teaching certification could also attract those with a passion for the profession.
After all, there are nearly 20,000 such people currently working in the schools. If there aren’t enough teachers to fill the gaps, this seems like the next most logical talent pool.
A single piece of legislation can’t solve this big of a problem, but it’s a reasonable start. Now, other legislators should pick up the ball and explore creative, long-term solutions for the teacher shortage.