Stagnant Supply of Teachers: Where Do We Go from Here?

Employees on a conveyor belt leaving their jobs.

For almost a decade, there have been growing concerns about teacher staffing challenges in Pennsylvania.

Indeed, there has been a steady increase in the number of teaching positions filled by teachers on an emergency permit rather than a certified teacher. In fact, for the 2020-21 school year, the number of emergency permits issued exceeded the number of individuals obtaining a teaching certificate from Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs (TPPs). In the 2021-22 school year, the number of emergency permits issued exceeded the number of individuals obtaining initial certification—both in-state and out-of-state.

We find that the number of newly certified teachers remains entirely inadequate to ensure that every child in Pennsylvania is taught by a well-qualified teacher. In fact, Pennsylvania continues to fall behind in efforts to provide an equitable education for all students. Without a concerted effort by lawmakers to dramatically increase the number of effective newly certified teachers, too many children in the Commonwealth will continue to receive an inadequate education. Not only does this have devastating impacts on individual children and communities, but an insufficient supply of teachers also has a negative effect on the overall economy of Pennsylvania.

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