Staff Shortages

Education news, analysis, and opinion about challenges associated with having unfilled school or district staff positions
The definition of teacher sits on teacher Leon Smith's desk at Haverford High School, in Haverford, PA on March 20, 2024.
A definition of the word teacher sits on Leon Smith's desk at Haverford High School, in Haverford, PA on March 20, 2024. New data suggest a long-term trend of higher vacancies and more underprepared teachers.
Alejandro A Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer via TNS
Teaching Profession Q&A What Teacher Shortages Really Say About the Profession
In the new book, Ending Teacher Shortages, researcher Tuan Nguyen highlights need to move from magic bullets to a more stable workforce
Sarah D. Sparks, October 8, 2026
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4 min read
English Learners Reports Teaching Multilingual Learners: Results of a National Survey
Based on an educator survey, this report examines views on staffing, instructional approaches, and training to teach multilingual learners.
October 1, 2026
The Maryland governor's office reports that 4% of the state’s teacher positions are unfilled, meaning nearly 1,600 classrooms don’t have an experienced educator leading students.
New data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development finds that teacher shortages are a global challenge.
Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/TNS
Teaching Profession What the Research Says How the U.S. Teaching Profession Compares to Global Peers
New data from OECD show global trends in teacher staffing and workloads.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 29, 2026
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4 min read
A classroom in Geneva Elementary School in Geneva County Schools, Geneva, Alabama on August04, 2026
A classroom in Geneva Elementary School in Geneva, Ala., is pictured in August 2026. Alabama still offers pay incentives for teachers in shortage areas, but many states do not, a new report finds.
Trisha Crain/Al.com via TNS
Teaching Profession What the Research Says States Roll Back Pay Incentives for Teachers in High-Need Areas
A new national study finds less differentiated pay for science fields, high-risk student groups.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 29, 2026
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3 min read
Chief David Hope, left, instructs junior Madilyn Ruder during a Firefighting and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) academy course at South Tech High School in Sunset Hills, Mo., on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. Students spend half their school day learning skills before returning to their home high school for traditional courses. (Whitney Curtis for Education Week)
Teacher David Hope, left, instructs junior Madilyn Ruder during a firefighting and emergency Medical Technician (EMT) academy course at South Tech High School in Sunset Hills, Mo., on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. Hope has to foot the bill to keep up with fast-changing EMT technology, something many districts don't cover for their career and technical education teachers.
Whitney Curtis for Education Week
Teaching Profession Skills Change Fast in CTE. Can Teachers Keep Up?
As career education expands, teachers often are still left to find industry training on their own.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 15, 2026
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10 min read
Third-grade students learn about identifying story elements as part of an elementary school's Dual Language Program in August 2023.
Third-grade students learn about identifying story elements as part of Crestwood Elementary School's Dual Language Program in August 2023 in Tampa, Fla. Due to silos in the teaching profession, English learners with disabilities may miss out on language services such as dual language programs in favor of special education programming.
Douglas R. Clifford/Zuma Press/Tampa Bay Times via TNS
English Learners How Schools Are Failing English Learners With Disabilities
An EdWeek Research Center survey found gaps in trained staff for dually identified students.
Ileana Najarro, July 24, 2026
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4 min read
A look at the state of teaching with English learner students in Antioch, Tenn.
A teacher works with English learner students at Mt. View Elementary School in Antioch, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2025. A new survey by the EdWeek Research Center shows that schools continue to struggle to find qualified teachers to work with the population.
William DeShazer for Education Week
English Learners From Our Research Center How Schools Are Navigating the English-Learner Teacher Shortage
EdWeek Research Center survey data found schools continue to struggle staffing for English learners.
Ileana Najarro, July 23, 2026
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4 min read
A blue silhouetted woman standing away from monochrome crowd. Conceptual design. Societal pressures and personal identity. Concept of psychology, loneliness in society, difference.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Getty
Recruitment & Retention Opinion We're Talking About Teacher Shortages the Wrong Way
Oversimplifying our K-12 staffing challenges makes them harder to solve.
Meagan Booth, July 22, 2026
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4 min read
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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Recruitment & Retention Whitepaper How Virtual Instruction Is Solving Rural Staffing Shortages and Expanding Access for Every Student
Fullmind's whitepaper, Learning Has No Address, argues that the teacher shortage in rural America isn't a pipeline problem — it's an acc....
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Teacher Greg Burris works with 1st grader Joshua at Munger Elementary-Middle School on May 7, 2026, in Detroit. Data show that there are too few male early educators, and when boys don’t see male teachers, they may be less likely to consider a career in teaching, perpetuating the cycle of too few male teachers.
Paul Sancya via AP
Early Childhood Q&A The Unspoken Reason Men Turn Away From Careers as Early Educators
Calvin Moore Jr. gets honest about why so few men are early-childhood teachers and how to fix it.
Elizabeth Heubeck, June 3, 2026
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4 min read
Audrey Deitz, a school bus driver since 2003 and for Windham Northeast Supervisory Union since 2017, makes sure everything is operating properly in Westminster, Vt., on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, as she gets ready for the upcoming school year.
A school bus driver in Westminster, Vt., makes sure everything is operating properly on Aug. 22, 2025, as she gets ready for the upcoming school year. School districts across the country continue to struggle with bus driver shortages, and many educators say they have to take time away from their core duties to help out with transportation.
Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP
School & District Management Schools Hope They Can Replenish Their Bus Driver Ranks This Summer
Without enough drivers, other educators often fill gaps. A new survey shows how often.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, May 27, 2026
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5 min read
A look at the state of teaching with English learner students in Antioch, Tenn.
English-language teacher Tameka Marshall leads a lesson dissecting a speech at John F. Kennedy Middle School on Dec. 3, 2025, in Antioch, Tenn. A national survey found that, while English-learner teachers are viewed as primarily responsible for these students, they are not always included in schoolwide instructional decisions.
William DeShazer for Education Week
English Learners From Our Research Center How Schools Serve English Learners Today, in Charts
New national survey data sheds light on where schools can improve English learners' instruction.
Ileana Najarro & Alex Harwin, April 23, 2026
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4 min read
English Language Teacher Olga Dietz, middle, talks with Glenda McKinney, another English Language Teacher, in between classes at Mt.View Elementary School in Antioch, Tenn.
English-learner teacher Olga Dietz, middle, talks with Glenda McKinney, another EL teacher, in between classes at Mt. View Elementary School in Antioch, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2025. Across the country districts are increasingly in need of these teachers with specialized skills for helping students learning English as the national EL population continues to grow.
William DeShazer for Education Week
English Learners 'They're Our Kids’: How Teaching English Learners Is Changing
As the national English-learner population continues to grow, the role of EL teachers is evolving.
Ileana Najarro, March 4, 2026
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12 min read
Illustration of luggage, airline tickets and visa document.
iStock
Recruitment & Retention Opinion What Trump's $100,000 Visa Fee Could Mean for Schools
An expert on teacher migration explains the possible consequences for international teachers.
Lora Bartlett, January 22, 2026
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5 min read