Something definitely has to be done. The pipeline is dry, and we don’t have people to replace those leaving.

I am an assistant principal at a high school, and the shortage is real. This is my 28th year in education, and there are not people entering our field at the same rate as those retiring or those deciding that this is not the career for them. We are about to hit the critical precipice where we simply will not have enough teachers for our students, and we have to do something, or we will be in trouble. This is a situation I am apprehensive about.

Tanya Snook, Keller, Texas

LinkedIn, January 2024

 

*BONDING:  having the function or effect of establishing a relationship or link with someone based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences. American Dictionary

 

Teacher shortages across the United States are not just happening now. It has been recognized to be a significant concern growing for over a decade. Florida is projected to need over 16,000 teachers in the present decade but sees only 6,000 graduating with their teacher credentials yearly. This number is deceiving as the state finds only 60% entered the field (Roberts, 2003).

Teacher shortages, the cost of universities for persons wishing to enter the teaching field, low pay, and lack of support from parents and school leadership are all weaved into teachers leaving or not entering teaching.

Factors leading to shortages now and into the future

There are numerous essential factors documented in several studies as to why these shortages in teaching have been growing:

• The High Cost of Education — Escalating costs of universities have deterred many talented individuals from entering the field.
• Inadequate Salaries — Teachers are undeniably the backbone of any educational system, yet their salaries often fail to reflect their dedication and hard work.
• Lack of Support — Teachers require a supportive ecosystem involving parents, students, and school administrators. Teachers have identified insufficient support from these stakeholders, which has led to many considering leaving the profession.

Another longstanding problem is the shortage of qualified teachers. This has severely disrupted students having to attend classes with unqualified teachers, and it has impacted their student’s learning and their future success.

University programs are closing, and many others operate with small enrollments

The number of students entering and graduating with a baccalaureate degree in teaching has been declining over the past decade. The National Center for Educational Statistics listed the number of graduates in 2008 at 102,849. In their more recent listing, there were 82,621 graduates in 2018. These numbers continue to go down with more university education programs closing. Here is a partial listing of recently closed programs:

• South Florida University — the entire college of education was scrapped (Flaherty, 2020).
• Oklahoma City University — Ended its elementary education program with only three students graduating the last year it existed (McMurdock, 2022).
• Harvard University discontinued its undergraduate teacher education program (Merod, 2022).
• In the fall of 2022, the University of Michigan felt the effects of low enrollment in their middle and high school cohort groups. They were down from the usual number of 45 enrollees to 28 (McMurdock, 2022).

Another concern reported in The Hechinger Report (2024) is the number of colleges and universities shutting down. It listed 30 colleges shutting down in the first ten months of 2023. Another 23 had closed down the previous year.

Community colleges are best situated to draw in many adult and diverse students

There are many potential baccalaureate degree students in every community college district. Having a baccalaureate degree option near their homes is essential. Many students already in baccalaureate degree programs reported continuing their education where they had had previous success was a comfort. 

They also highlighted the importance of faculty support from teachers they had in their associate degree classes. Having flexibility on when to attend classes was also ranked high. Financial considerations, lower tuition, and the ability to remain at home were all important considerations. Students mentioned that having an adult peer group as they had during their associate degree years was another plus factor.

Where is the diversity among future teachers needed in many inner-city and rural school districts?

Here are some of the demographics of the students in Community College Baccalaureate degrees:

• Highly Diverse
• Many had attended college before; some reported having the Associate Degree
• 57% were female
• 42% were people of color
• 47% were 30 years or older
• More likely to have dependents
• Some were veterans

Most of the students interviewed indicated that without the baccalaureate degree at their community college, they would not have pursued continuing their education beyond the associate degree.

The 27 Florida community colleges offering Community College Baccalaureate Degrees (CCB) were spread throughout the state in the following areas:

• Urban areas 46%
• Suburban communities, 29%
• and Rural communities, 25%

In their 2022 (September) report on teacher shortages in Florida, the Florida Department of Education announced that education programs in Florida for preparing teachers were down approximately 67%. This led to only one-third of the new teachers needed in their Florida classrooms.

K-12 and community college foundation financial support and tuition waivers

Most K-12 school districts and community and technical colleges have foundation funding. This would offer excellent support for tuition, books, and other costs of attending these colleges. Community colleges can also waive tuition for students without adequate financial support. This tuition waiver option happens in many of their athletic programs and some of the academic programs.

Community college student tuition and borrowing found to be very low

A recent report in the Community College Daily (2022) found that 67% of community college students who completed their associate degree have not borrowed money while achieving their degrees. In addition, community college tuition and fees were listed at $3,990 a year. This is compared with university and other four-year public colleges' average annual tuition and fees of $11,260.

Community college baccalaureate degree students in California averaged between $10,000 and $10,500 in tuition over the four years of enrollment in numerous workforce programs. The state has not yet approved programs to prepare educators for community college baccalaureate degrees.

Quality of teachers

Community colleges offer a wide range of opportunities for both students and teachers. One of the notable offerings is the availability of teachers with master's degrees in all areas of the general curriculum. 

In addition, community colleges employ excellent vocational and industrial teachers who have gained practical skills and experiences in their respective fields. This gives students the unique opportunity to learn from professionals with firsthand experience in their area of study. 

Many secondary school teachers with master's degrees also teach thousands of dual-credit students nationwide. They offer these courses in local high schools, on the college campus, and via remote learning. This helps prepare future teachers in their STEM teaching and helps prepare these teachers to assist many students who will wish to enter workforce positions right out of secondary school and community college workforce areas of associate degree studies.

Recently retired teachers and others who are qualified and living in the community college communities are also drawn upon to do adjunct teaching. Many of these individuals are raising families or working in other full-time or part-time positions.

Bonding: The time is now to work together

It is in the best interests of our American education system to see two of its most essential elements work together. It can do much relatively quickly to help close many teacher shortages nationwide. This must happen now as it has been well documented that these shortages will continue. 

The closing of teacher preparation programs across the country has increased the growing shortages. Low enrollments in hundreds of other teacher preparation programs will continue to limit this long-time pipeline of meeting the needs now and into the future.

Who will make the call?

Will a K-12 superintendent, community, or technical college president make the first call? Will a regional superintendent, state K-12 superintendent, or principals’ group leader take the lead? Can a state board of education and a community college trustee leadership person take the lead? 

The following is a listing of some of the influential leadership positions that can and must soon take the leadership role to bring about a new pipeline for preparing teachers:

K-12 Board Leader                                  Community College Trustee Leader

K-12 Superintendent                              Community College President

K-12 Principal                                          Community College Vice President of Instruction

State Superintendent of Education     Community College State Leader

Together, the K-12 and Community College leadership people can provide a force within each state to make it happen. 

State senators and members of Congress represent all of these schools in each state. A joint force of these educational leaders will help pave the way to pass the required legislation to make this new pipeline happen. Why, again, is it not yet happening?

In one state alone, New Mexico, there are 123,000 K-12 students who have not had a qualified-certified teacher over the past seven years. These numbers have to be as high or much higher in many of the largest states throughout the country.

The ‘bonding’ that can be expected with these two education entities deciding they hold the key to mitigating these severe teacher shortages is ever so close. Hundreds of thousands of parents and students depend on something this common sense to take place as soon as possible! The time is now for those first calls. Time is not our friend!

Hans Andrews(andrewsha@sbcglobal.net) is a Distinguished Fellow in Community College Leadership through Olney Central College (Illinois). He is a former president of the college. He started the first dual-credit program in the country between community colleges and secondary schools.

Greg Rockhold (pgrockhold@gmail.com) has served on the National Association of Secondary School Principals board, as the president of the New Mexico Coalition of School Administrators, and as the executive director of the New Mexico Association of Secondary School Principals. He also served as a superintendent.

 

References

Flaherty, C. (2020, Oct. 27). Death by a Thousand Cuts. Retrieved January 9, 2024, at Teacher education programs continue to suffer 'death by a thousand cuts' (insidehighered.com)

Florida Education Association (2022, Sept.) The Florida Department of Education’s recent Critical Shortage Areas Report. Retrieved January 20, 2024, at Teacher and Staff Shortage | Florida Education Association (feaweb.org) - Search (bing.com)

Meza, E. & Love, Ivy (2022, Mar. 3). Community College Baccalaureate Programs as an Equity Strategy:  Student Access and Outcomes Data BRIEF. Retrieved January 7, 2024, at Community College Baccalaureate Programs as an Equity Strategy: Student Access and Outcomes Data - Search (bing.com)

Murdock, M. (2022, Sept. 22). Traditional University Teacher Ed Programs Face Enrollment Declines, Staff Cuts. Retrieved November 12, 2023, at Traditional University Teacher Ed Programs Face Enrollment Declines, Staff CutsMGo5qAIAsAIA&FORM=ANAB01&PC=U531 - Search (bing.com)

Prieur (2024, Jan. 17). Where have all the teachers gone? The state needs more than 4,000. Retrieved January 20, 2024, at Where have all the teachers gone? The state requires more than 4,000 - Search (bing.com)

Prieur, D.  (2023, Dec. 13).  International teachers fill special educations vacancies in Florida.  Retrieved January 8, 2024, from International teachers fill special education vacancies in Florida. - Search (bing.com)

Roberts, L.  (2003, June 12). The role of community colleges in K-12 teacher education:  Community college baccalaureate degrees. From roundtable discussion at the National Policy Summit, Steamboat Springs, CO.