Among a variety of factors that have contributed to the national teacher shortage crisis, student behavior is the number one reason most teachers are opting out of the profession, according to a survey released by Chalkboard Review this week.
Here's a political pick-me-up for K-12 leaders who've grown weary of the wave of new state laws that have narrowed curricula in various parts of the country.
Treating teachers more like other workforce professionals would go a long way to easing the staffing constraints now challenging district leaders, particularly in STEM subjects and special education.
Retirements among Alabama K-12 employees were down slightly this year, in part because of a salary bump approved by lawmakers this year, officials say.
Job dissatisfaction among pre-K-12 teachers has risen by a staggering 34 percentage points since the start of the pandemic, jumping from 45% to 79% in a poll of more than 1,300 educators conducted in late June.
Individuals without a bachelor's degree can now train to become a teacher in Arizona while finishing their degree. But experts warn that filling vacancies has to be strategic.
Alabama K-12 public school teachers retired in large numbers again this year - but raises for experienced teachers appear to have encouraged some to cancel planned retirements, too.
One way to keep teachers enthusiastic about their jobs is to provide new ways for them to improve their craft. Better yet, pay them to engage in professional development that fits into their busy lives.
Education has become such a powerful political issue that some parents would vote for someone from another political party if that candidate shared their views, a new poll shows.
