Bucks County is among many other Pennsylvania counties facing a teacher shortage. Officials are calling the shortage “moderate,” writes Chris Ullery in the Bucks County Courier Times.
According to Teach Plus Pennsylvania, 45 of 67 Pennsylvania counties are facing a “severe” or “extremely severe” shortage of teachers.
Data indicates that Bucks County’s public-school districts are 190 educators short of being fully staffed. There are also not enough new teachers available to fill the roles of others leaving their positions.
“Teacher supply, as measured by newly issued certifications, is failing to keep pace with teacher attrition and demand for new teachers,” the report for Bucks County states.
Reports show there were 5,906 teachers during the 2023-2024 school year in Bucks County. Only 35 teachers were newly certified, and 288 teachers were retiring from their positions.
Approximately 8 percent of Bucks County educators are considered “novices,” with three years of experience or less. An additional 8 percent of teachers are “out-of-field,” meaning they are teaching a subject beyond their area of certification.
Statistics also show that there’s a lack of diversity among teachers. Reports indicate only 4 percent of Bucks County educators are people of color.
To uncover the full scope of Bucks County’s teacher shortage, including staffing gaps, certification challenges, and calls for statewide solutions, read the full article in the Bucks County Courier Times.
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