Eric.ed.gov – Targeted Teacher Recruitment: What Is the Issue and Why Does It Matter? Policy Snapshot

Districts across the country are facing severe shortages of teachers–especially in certain subjects (math, science, special education, career and technical education, and bilingual education) and in specific schools (urban, rural, high-poverty, high-minority, and low-achieving). The severity of the teacher shortage problem varies significantly by state, district, school, and subject. As such, many experts argue that efforts to address shortages should be less about recruiting teachers generally and more about recruiting and retaining the right teachers, in the right subjects, for the right schools. Several states have recently enacted targeted teacher recruitment legislation in one or more of the following areas to attract teachers to high-need schools and subjects: research and data collection; state and district innovations; career pathways and grow-your-own programs; preparation and licensure; financial incentives; and retired teachers. This Policy Snapshot explores recent legislation and key areas of teacher recruitment, and provides summary information on past years’ legislative activities.