Report: National Teacher Shortages A Result Of Low Wages, Tough Political Environments

A new report has found that a combination of low salaries, tough political environments and accountability measures are contributing to a national teacher shortage, leading some classrooms to be led by instructors with little experience.

Linda Darling-Hammond, professor of education emeritus at Stanford University, co-authored the Learning Policy Institute's report, "A Coming Crisis in Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in the U.S." The problem is widespread throughout the United States and having an impact on educational outcomes, Darling-Hammond said.

"We estimate that in the last year we were short about 60,000 teachers for the positions that were being advertised in terms of people qualified in the subject areas where the vacancies were posted," she said. "That means that districts are hiring people who are not prepared to teach."

http://www.wpr.org/report-national-teacher-shortages-result-low-wages-tough-political-environments