Bucks County schools have launched new programs aimed to attract, prepare and retain teachers amid a nationwide shortage, writes Kai Lincke for the Bucks County Courier Times.
While the situation in Bucks County is not as dire as in 45 Pennsylvania counties with a severe or extremely severe teacher shortage, it is estimated that local school districts still need around 190 more qualified teachers to fully staff their schools.
To combat the issue, several local high schools, including Palisades and Quakertown, have started offering educator career pathways that introduce students to teaching.
A new Teacher Academy program established during the 2024–25 school year at Central Bucks High School South hopes to “grow, foster, and empower the next generation of educators in our community” while establishing a Grow Your Own-style teacher pipeline.
GYO programs take many forms, such as teaching scholarships, programs that give high school students early teaching experience and alternative-route certification programs for professionals without teaching degrees.
During its first year at Central, 13 students took part in the program. The district is planning to further develop the program at CB South in 2025–26 and soon introduce it at its other two high schools.
Read more about how Bucks County schools are tackling the teacher shortage with innovative homegrown solutions in the Bucks County Courier Times.
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