Understanding Shortages
Labor Market Projections
Employment Projections
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Long- and short-term projections of occupational employment growth for all states and the nation.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data relating to employment and the labor force to the American public, the U.S. Congress, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor.
PK-12 Educator Shortages
AAEE 2020-2021 Educator Supply and Demand Report [PDF]
American Association for Employment in Education
The Educator Supply and Demand Report is a nationally recognized resource for identifying trends in PK-12 educator supply and demand.
AIR’s Teacher Shortages: Trends, Projections, and What Experts Say
American Institutes for Research
Teacher shortages are widely reported across the United States. But is there more to the story? The American Institutes for Research curated briefs and reports on shortages, teacher recruitment, and preparation.
Teacher Shortage Areas, Nationwide Listing: 1990–1991 through 2014–2015 (Full Report) [PDF]
U.S. Department of Education
Special Education and Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Shortages
SISP Employment Data Analysis (November 2021)
National Education Association (NEA)
A look at employment numbers for Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) in PK-12 public schools.
Schools Survey Report: SLP Workforce & Work Condition Trends, 2004–2020 [PDF]
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
This report gathers information about professional issues for speech-language pathologists in school settings from 2004 to 2018.
Schools Survey Report: Trends in Educational Audiology, 2010–2020 [PDF]
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
This report gathers information about professional issues for audiologists in school settings from 2010 to 2018.
Shortages in School Psychology Resource Guide
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
This resource guide presents recruitment and retention strategies to address shortages in school psychology.
Shortages in School Psychology: Challenges to Meeting the Growing Needs of U.S. Students and Schools
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
This research summary presents some of the key research findings and recommendations to understand and address shortages in school psychology.
Special Education Teacher Shortage: A Policy Analysis (June 2021)
Council for Exceptional Children
This article discusses the current special education teacher shortage and reviews some of the current federal efforts to provide funding and resources to help address the issues.
Special Education/Related Services Personnel Shortages List 2011-2012 (Chart) [PDF]
U.S. Department of Education
Understanding Shortages of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel: Dialogue Guide [PDF]
NCPSSERS
Dialogue guide for discussion with policymakers, practitioners and educators, the general public, school administrators, and higher education programs on the issue of personnel shortages.
Variability in Demand for Special Education Teachers: Indicators, Explanations, and Impacts
Exceptionality
A 2013 article regarding the decline of special education teachers, including contributing factors such as service delivery, the economy, and the number of students with disabilities on their caseloads.
Higher Education Faculty Shortages Affecting PK-12
Shortage of Special Education Expertise Among Teachers & Higher Education Faculty [PDF]
Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE)
This 2014 report looks at the shortages of special education teachers in K-12 schools, as well as special education faculty.
Recruitment and Retention Resources
Resources from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), US Department of Education
Attract, Prepare, Retain: Effective Personnel For All
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), US Department of Education
These resources, developed by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), focus on strategies to attract, prepare, and retain effective personnel for roles as general and special education teachers, early childhood personnel, and specialized instructional support providers. Included are webinars, video vignettes, and 13 leverage briefs that address funding, growing your own programs, micro credentials, residencies, induction and mentoring, and alternative certification routes.
Enhancing Professional Leadership [PDF]
OSEP
Promoting professional leadership is a strategy that involves formally or informally recognizing individuals who influence, mobilize, and guide personnel in their school or district and in the field itself. This leverage brief provides an overview, research, and examples on promoting leadership
Induction and Mentoring [PDF]
OSEP
Novice personnel are at the highest risk for attrition during their first 3 years in the field. Induction and mentoring address this challenge by providing strong in-service supports as personnel become acclimated to their new role. This leverage brief provides an overview, research, and examples on induction and mentorship programs.
Ongoing Professional Learning [PDF]
OSEP
To increase the effectiveness of personnel, ongoing professional learning must be deeply embedded in their daily work. This leverage brief provides an overview, research, and examples on professional learning opportunities to enhance skills and practice among teachers, interventionists, educational support personnel, and specialized instructional support personnel.
Professional Empowerment [PDF]
OSEP
When employees feel valued, they are more likely to stay in their positions. This leverage brief provides an overview, research, and examples on professional empowerment.
Supportive Work Environments [PDF]
OSEP
Positive school climate, manageable workload, social supports from administrators, and logistical benefits characterize a supportive work environment. This leverage brief provides an overview, research, and examples on how to cultivate a supportive work environment.
Other Resources
Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention
Learning Policy Institute
Preparing and Retaining Effective Special Education Teachers: Short-Term Strategies for Long-Term Solutions [PDF]
CEEDAR Center and the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders
Many states struggle with shortages of special education teachers (SET). To address the shortage problem in the long term, policymakers, preparation providers, and state and district administrators must ensure that any short-term strategies are combined with a comprehensive plan that includes long-term systemic strategies to strengthen the supply, preparation, and retention of special education teachers.
Recruitment and Retention of School-Based Physical Therapists [PDF]
APTA
This document highlights considerations for recruitment and retention of physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) in public schools.
Teacher Retention: Reducing the Attrition of Special Educators
Iris Center
This learning module addresses key factors that influence teacher turnover and retention and provides six specific actions that school leaders can implement to improve retention.
Using Teacher Exit Surveys to Improve Teacher Retention
Regional Education Laboratory
An article by Joni Wackwitz discussing how a teacher exit survey can help districts and schools better understand why teachers leave and better target efforts to improve retention.