Educator Shortage

Addressing the Educator Shortage

Specially Designed Instruction in Co-Teaching: Continuing the Conversation

States, districts, schools, and educator preparation programs are continuing to operate tirelessly to ensure all students are provided a high-quality education while simultaneously balancing staffing shortages greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey conducted by the National Education Association revealed that members reported they are more likely to leave the profession earlier than originally planned, that burnout is a serious problem, that they have observed more teachers leaving the profession or retiring early, and that unfilled positions have increased their workload (55%, 90%, 86%, and 80%, respectively). The reasons for teacher shortages are complex and require systemic, evidence-based strategies and strong partnerships at all stages of the career continuum.

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Policy Solutions to Address Educator Shortage

Learn how to address the educator shortage by developing an interstate compact agreement, providing support for the Praxis and State Content Exams, supporting credential flexibilities, developing a supply and demand data collection system, teacher compensation options, and more.
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Increased Compensation: State and District Efforts to Stabilize and Strengthen the Educator Workforce

In this session, you will hear from national experts and local practitioners about efforts across the country to reform teacher compensation, including specific actions to make the teaching profession more attractive and to retain effective teachers. Panelists will also discuss how the federal education funds (e.g., Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations [CRRSA] Act in 2020, American Rescue Plan [ARP]) can be used strategically to stabilize and strengthen the educator workforce.
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The Role of Teacher Residency in Strengthening and Diversifying the Special Education Workforce

In this webinar, the National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR) will describe the components of the residency model and share the conditions that must be present to successfully implement a residency program. NCTR’s director of state and federal policy will discuss the state and federal policies that promote, seed, and sustain teacher residencies. Webinar participants will leave the webinar with a clear understanding of the residency model and actionable next steps to explore launching a residency program to address teacher shortages, diversity, quality, and retention in their communities.
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Establishing a Pipeline of Future Special Educators: Using Grow-Your-Own Programs to Recruit High School Students, Career Changers, and Paraprofessionals

In this session, states and districts will learn about efforts to recruit high school students, career changers, and paraprofessionals into the profession, specifically to become special educators. The session will highlight Austin Peay State University’s apprenticeship program and Detroit Public Schools Community District’s On the Rise Academy.
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Maintaining Quality: Georgia’s Alternative Pathway to Teacher Certification

In this session participants will hear from the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy, Georgia’s alternative pathway to teacher certification, as speakers describe its efforts to implement a rigorous, job-embedded teacher preparation program that prioritizes coaching, support, and research-based strategies and practices known to positively impact student learning. Concentrating on hard-to-staff subjects and schools, this vital pipeline provides Georgia schools with bright, talented individuals who are often second-career professionals.
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