The Arizona Department of Education recently released a report on the state’s teacher shortage — showing thousands of positions remain unfilled.
And thousands more are being filled through alternative methods, such as long-term substitutes, contract workers and student teachers.
"We’ve lost 1,000 teachers since July. We have over 2,000 classes being taught by permanent substitutes, who are not properly trained to teach the kids, so the kids are getting cheated," state Superintendent Tom Horne said.
Horne said the state must increase teachers’ salaries.
He also said student behavior is contributing to the problem, and teachers must be given more non-violent disciplinary options to help rein in out-of-control classrooms.
More Arizona education news
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A decade ago, Arizona leaders set a goal designed to boost our state’s future by boosting our state’s students post high-school graduation. By 2030, 70% of the state’s graduates would continue their education in college, or in trade school or community college. -
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There are four candidates in the running to be the next Arizona superintendent of public instruction. While the two Republicans are well-known names in state politics, the Democrats are both political newcomers.
