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Teacher Shortage

​California has been experiencing a shortage of teachers, especially in special education, bilingual education, and science, technology, engineering and math for some years. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem. EdSource is tracking how the shortage is impacting different districts and regions statewide. Many are working on aggressive tactics to recruit and retain teachers, including offering bonuses and other incentives, and building teacher “residency” programs.
Credentialing
September 14, 2022

What you need to know to become a teacher in California | Quick Guide

The teacher shortage prompted California lawmakers to ease testing requirements, waive exam fees and begin new programs to recruit and retain teachers.

Diana Lambert
Teacher Shortage
August 31, 2022

Teacher shortage? Depends where you look

Wealthier districts tended to have fewer vacancies than those in low-income areas

Carolyn Jones
Los Angeles Unified
August 12, 2022

Los Angeles Unified to enter school year with fewer classroom vacancies, district says

The teachers union finds it 'improbable' that LAUSD was able to fill about 700 vacancies in the last week.

Kate Sequeira
Student Well-Being
August 10, 2022

What’s new this school year? Changing Covid protocols, universal TK, later start times and more

California's school year will begin with fewer Covid protocols, universal transitional kindergarten, more afterschool programs and community schools, and later start times for older students.

Diana Lambert
Credentialing
August 4, 2022

Poorer students still get the least qualified teachers, but California has made progress

There are 40% more teachers in poor schools who lack the required qualifications than in the richest schools, an EdSource analysis found.

Diana Lambert, John Fensterwald, And Daniel J. Willis
Teacher Survey Project
July 13, 2022

California teachers share their challenges and worries: Teaching during Covid

The nonprofit Inverness Institute interviewed veteran teachers about life in the classroom during another difficult year impacted by a pandemic; two principals involved with the study sum up the findings in an interview with EdSource's John Fensterwald.

John Fensterwald
Credentialing
June 30, 2022

Nearly 1 out of 5 classes in California taught by underprepared teachers

A new state database of teacher assignments shows that 17% of K-12 classes in 2020-21 were taught by teachers without the credential or training to teach the course.

Diana Lambert, Daniel J. Willis, And Yuxuan Xie
Commentary
June 13, 2022

With pressures on teachers at a boiling point, California needs new pathways into the profession

For long-term and lasting solutions, we must attract more young people to enter the teaching profession and give them the training and support they need to succeed.

Sarah Lillis & Anne Stanton
Commentary
June 8, 2022

California has tens of billions more in funding for its TK-12 schools. Is that enough to keep teachers from leaving?

California must invest more to attract and retain public school teachers when so many are considering quitting.

Angella Martinez
Teacher Shortage
June 2, 2022

Covid challenges, bad student behavior push teachers to limit, out the door

Covid challenges and student misbehavior push thousands of teachers to their limits and beyond.

Diana Lambert
Commentary
May 3, 2022

How to address the teacher shortage before the well runs dry

State and federal legislators must enact measures to alleviate the conditions causing California teachers to quit. The public must demand action before we can't even keep our schools open.

Cassandra R. Henderson
Los Angeles Unified
April 22, 2022

LAUSD expects to finish reassigning staff to vacant teaching roles this week

Credentialed staff have been redeployed to schools across the district as part of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho's 100-day plan.

Kate Sequeira
Analysis
April 14, 2022

Where are all of California's school librarians?

California has fewer credentialed teacher librarians in its school libraries per student than almost every state in the nation, a fact that research shows could be hurting students academically.

Diana Lambert
Commentary
March 30, 2022

How to diversify California’s educator workforce

To increase educator diversity, state, county and district leaders should gather as a community to learn and share best practices for recruiting, supporting and retaining teachers of color.

Travis J. Bristol
Commentary
March 15, 2022

Effective induction programs are key to retaining new teachers

Mentoring and support can make all the difference for new teachers, but when postponed, induction programs become a burden instead.

Julie Sheldon