Dive Brief:
- Thousands of students in the Philadelphia School District are being taught by uncertified teachers, since over 139 teacher vacancies still exist in the district, a number that represents 1.6% of the 8,443 teaching positions in the district.
- To make up for the discrepancies, the district is now planning to offer summer classes to help students who went without qualified teachers for over 33% of the current school year.
- Some politicians are criticizing the district, because the state mandates that certified teachers lead instruction in Pennsylvania classrooms.
Dive Insight:
Even without the serious problem of a widespread teacher shortage, the Philadelphia School District has been strapped for cash. As of December, a state budget impasse led Philadelphia School District Superintendent William Hite to announce that some area schools would likely be unable to remain open due to a lack of funding. Previously, 50% of classes in the state lacked teachers due to shortages.
Teachers in Chester Upland School District resorted to working without paychecks, not once but twice, and according to NBC Philadelphia, the state auditor general's office “has tallied about $900 million in borrowing by Pennsylvania school districts to get through the impasse, including $525 million by Philadelphia." One district, Erie, has reportedly amassed $27 million in unpaid bills.
Nationwide, the complex problem of teacher shortages has sparked debate. Some say it's a cyclical issue. Enrollment in teacher preparation programs has fallen by double digit percentages in the U.S., yet some believe that shortages have ebbed and flowed over time, pointing out there is no pre-existing data against which to compare the current shortages.
Pay could be a factor, as teachers' salaries have declined. The National Education Association reports the average salary for a public school teacher fell roughly 4% in the last decade. Even if Pennsylvania's funding situation improves, it's unclear how, exactly, the district will recruit talent.