The Survey Says: ‘We’re at a Crisis Point’

Student behavior has nearly overtaken pay as the top concern among educators—and it’s driving some out of the profession.

Today, 4 out of 5 teachers and education support professionals find student behavior to be a serious problem, according to an NEA nationwide poll of 2,889 educators on student mental health conducted last year. Some 81 percent of educators surveyed said students are acting out and misbehaving.

The result for educators? Stress, burnout, and persistent staffing shortages. In a 2024 survey by the RAND Corporation, funded in part by NEA,   44 percent of teachers cited student behavior as the top source of job-related stress.

In a study by Pew Research that same year, 80 percent of teachers reported they have to address students’ behavioral problems “at least a few times a week,” with 58 percent saying this happens every day.

Member surveys conducted by several NEA state affiliates mirror these national findings, proving behavior concerns to be pervasive and almost universal. For example, in a 2024 Idaho Education Association survey, 59 percent of members identified student behavior as a serious concern.

An Iowa State Education Association survey that same year found that 62 percent of its members considered student discipline and behavior to be a very serious concern.

Outbursts, aggression, and wasted time

In Delaware, a similar pattern emerges. Behavior challenges are leading to a loss of instruction time and are exacerbating the teacher shortage, according to a 2024 survey by the Delaware State Education Association (DSEA).

Rather than focusing time on classroom instruction, the average public school teacher in the state now spends 7 hours per month managing student outbursts and other behavioral health issues, with middle school teachers losing closer to 10 hours of instruction time per month, according to the survey results.

“We’re at a crisis point in public education that’s only going to get worse—until administrators, school boards, and state legislators take corrective action to restore our schools to safe and healthy learning environments,” says DSEA President Stephanie Ingram.

More than 75 percent of educators surveyed reported a lack of parental support in dealing with student discipline, while 60 percent said they lack support from administrators.

Educators were clear about changes they believe would address student behavior issues, including: Smaller class sizes; better disciplinary support from administrators; more co-teachers in classrooms with larger numbers of high-needs students; better administrative communication with parents; mental health professionals who have time to provide more services; more paraprofessionals; and clear cellphone policies for the whole building or district.

The risk of burnout

The Connecticut Education Association (CEA) wanted to learn more about the persistent educator shortage in their state. A 2024 member survey found that stress and burnout topped their list of concerns. The cause? Challenges with student behavior and discipline.

“Teaching has become mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting,” said CEA member Elsa Batista at a press conference calling on state lawmakers to address the educator shortage. “We are strong, resilient, and creative, but we need support, we need help in our classrooms. Right now, that’s not happening, and we cannot afford to lose more teachers.”

A 2024 survey by the NEA Rhode Island found that 74 percent of members said students are acting out and misbehaving, and 40 percent reported that students are more violent toward staff and peers.

Educators say students’ behavior outbursts  have grown more serious, according to a 2024 EdWeek Research Center study. Most teachers (68%) say they have experienced verbal abuse from their students, such as being yelled at or verbally threatened. About 1 in 5 say this happens at least a few times a month.

The search for solutions

Cellphone bans have helped. Educators across the country also call for limiting class sizes and for administrators to create clear policies for addressing student behavior.

But to achieve lasting solutions, says CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, “we have to make an investment in public education. It is the single most important investment we can make.”