K12 schools will soon open their doors for the new school year and many schools are still dealing with a shortage of teachers. This article from The Hill does a nice job of identifying common explanations for the challenge.
The causes identified include:
- Stress associated with COVID, COVID-related changes in how instruction is to be delivered, and public questioning of education.
- Low salaries. The article indicates that the starting salary in 2019/20 was $41,000.
- A decline in the number of education graduates. Nationwide the total number of education degrees was 200,000 or so in the 1970s and 90,000 in 2019.
- Occupations options for women – 36% of grads in 1970 were focused on education and 6% in 2019.
- These factors in combination – many of these factors feed on each other increasing the impact. Fewer teachers mean more demand on those who are working. Low pay means other occupations will be more attractive. etc.
