Take Action
Tell Congress to pass legislation to address educator shortages
According to a recent survey of NEA members, 55 percent of educators are ready to leave the profession sooner than previously planned. A disproportionate number of those weighing their options are Black and Hispanic/Latino educators (62 percent and 59 percent, respectively) who are already under-represented in the profession.
Ninety percent reported feeling constantly exhausted and swamped on the job, 86 percent said they have seen more educators leave the profession or retire early in the past two years, and 74 percent reported having to fill in for a colleague.
Educator shortages predate the pandemic, but have worsened since it began—especially among substitute teachers and in hard-to-staff subjects such as math, science, special education, and bilingual education.