One teacher can make a difference and change the trajectory of a child’s life. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has been facing a teacher crisis. Several factors play into why so many teachers leave the profession, as well as not many people getting their teaching degrees. Post-pandemic adaptations and policies have led to teacher burnout. The pandemic placed several common problems teachers face in the spotlight while adding additional challenges to the mix. But what about the children? Students are facing a new world of learning. They are on the receiving end of these new policies, adapting to online learning and a changing world from pre to post pandemic. Except, now there are fewer teachers to help students learn. Here is what you need to know about the teaching job market and how to get your credentials.
What Is the Teacher Crisis?
The teacher crisis is a nationwide problem where several teachers are leaving the profession and not enough teachers are replacing them. The sharp decline in teacher employment and retention spiked in spring 2020, when the U.S. lost 730,000 local public education teachers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2020-21 school year, there were 85,057 education bachelor’s degrees earned. There has been a steady decline in education graduates since the 1990s, creating a large demand for teachers. Each state is experiencing different levels of teacher shortages and unqualified teachers, however, the teacher turnover rate is expected to decline and plateau in the years 2023 through 2024. In fact, some states are getting closer to their pre-pandemic teacher staffing levels.
How Does the Teacher Shortage Impact Students?
There are a few aspects in which the teacher shortage negatively impacts students. Class sizes continue to balloon as the number of available teachers dwindles. Some schools and classrooms have turned to online or distance learning. There is also an increase in hiring unqualified teachers in an attempt to combat the teacher crisis.
- Large classroom sizes: Every student is different and absorbs knowledge in different ways. This is why teachers learn various strategies to implement into their teaching methods. The teacher shortage forces an excessive number of students into one classroom without enough teachers. This decreases the amount of time a teacher can spend with each student. The large student-to-teacher ratio also makes it harder to customize a teacher plan to the student’s needs. This makes the process of teaching and learning rather difficult.
- Online learning at a young age: Creating a personalized learning strategy for students through a computer screen is challenging. Young students tend to need help with focus and organization due to their age. By learning from a distance, it is hard for teachers to help children stay on task as well as assist with organization. Elementary and even middle school students will be tempted to search online for their answers rather than critically think through the problem. Not to mention, there are endless distractions that come with being on a computer, such as online games, social media, and YouTube videos.
- Hiring unqualified teachers: The estimated number of teachers who are not fully certified and occupy a teaching position in 47 states is 286,290. The hiring of unqualified teachers is in an attempt to cover the teacher vacancies. However, this is not a long-term solution.
The teacher shortage has led to a teacher crisis. Hiring people who are not fully qualified to teach and then merging classroom sizes is less than desirable in teaching and learning circumstances. Now online learning for young children makes it significantly harder to achieve the optimal learning potential for students.
What Changed To Help Slow the Teacher Shortage?
There have been several policy changes to improve the teaching conditions. In turn, they have helped students as well. These policies focus on new teacher preparations and mentoring, improving hiring standards to improve long-term conditions, and increasing teacher compensation. This severe decline in education graduates and rise in teacher vacancies emphasized problems in the old education system, thus bringing forth changes.
The Biden administration invested $2.76 billion in public education through grant programs in fiscal year 2023. The goal is to increase teacher pay and working conditions. The individual states have also taken action into their own hands, creating state legislature, policies, and funding to help combat the teacher crisis. The post-pandemic teacher crisis has drawn federal and state attention to fixing public education teaching conditions, thus improving learning conditions for students. More changes are expected to come in the future.
Is the Teaching Job Market Growing?
There is a large demand for more teachers, growing the job market projection to 120,300 openings before 2031 for just elementary school. Middle school teaching job openings are expected to be 47,300. Now that the teacher shortage brought forth a call to action, leading to federal and state-level changes in teachers’ working conditions, the market is expected to rebound.
Now there are more opportunities for new teachers to find a job, work in better conditions, and receive higher pay. Furthermore, the pandemic has opened the doors for more online teachers, substitute teachers, and special education (SPED) teachers.
Online Teaching Jobs for Kids or Adults?
There are online teaching jobs available for children and adult education. Almost 300 virtual elementary teaching jobs are available. The pandemic forced many schools to revert to online learning in hopes of slowing the spread of COVID-19. However, this method of teaching and learning remains on higher education campuses. Older students are more likely to benefit from a virtual education than younger children.
Many college students prefer online learning for its flexibility, cost, and convenience. Higher education systems offer virtual learning to stay competitive with student demands. Online education also allows postgraduate students to further their knowledge and skills while working or raising their families. Therefore, the market for online teaching jobs is expected to grow for higher education rather than for primary schools.
Growth in Substitute Teacher Jobs
The demand for substitute teachers was expected to grow by 4% from 2018 to 2028. But due to the pandemic, now 20% of requests for substitutes are unfilled. According to ZipRecruiter, there are currently 91,678 substitute teacher jobs available in the U.S. In some states, it is only required to have a bachelor’s degree and need to pass a background check. Depending on the state, you may only need further education or certifications to become eligible for substitute teaching.
Special Education Jobs: How To Become a SPED Teacher
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 33,500 special education job openings are projected to be available each year. Special education teaching credentials include getting your B.A. in Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education and Special Education, or a related degree. Complete a teaching internship working with special education students. Then take your state-required test and apply for licensure.
Get Your Teaching Credentials Now
How long does it take to become a teacher? It takes four years to get your B.A. in Early Childhood Education degree at Pacific Oaks College. The state you wish to teach in may require additional education and certifications. Use this high demand for teachers to secure a career in education. Whether it is a virtual teacher, substitute, or special education teacher, the projections of job openings are high. Luckily, federal and state governments have sought solutions to improve working conditions for teachers. Help fix the teacher shortage by becoming a qualified teacher, and help shape the lives of young students.
