For years, Hawaii has struggled to recruit and retain special education teachers. And it’s not alone: This school year, 48 states, including Hawaii, reported shortages of special education teachers to the federal government.
The shortage is so severe that Hawaii is one of several states that rely on teachers without licenses in special education to teach some of the highest needs students – like those who do not speak and those with challenging behaviors.
But Hawaii’s pay increase, which began in 2020, was a game-changer. Before the incentive, in October 2019, almost 30% of the state’s special education positions were vacant or staffed by teachers without appropriate licenses, district data shows. By October 2021, that number dropped by half, to about 15%
