What’s Going On With Educator Shortages?

Nine out of every ten school districts nationwide report up to 10% of their instructional staff positions are unfilled as we move into the 2022-23 school year, according to a survey administered by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. In addition, one in five district leaders report staff vacancies are 6-10% higher now than a year ago.

The survey, What’s Going On With Educator Shortages? reflects real-time feedback from those doing the hiring and aimed to look at the vacancy rates of both instructional and non-instructional positions. In addition, the survey provides context of these reported vacancy rates compared to the previous school year.

“It’s abundantly clear that we need to build a better pipeline of educators who are going to exert the kind of leadership and courage that is needed today to move America’s public education agenda forward,” said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, AASA. “We are grateful to the superintendents who participated in our survey at a time when the exodus of education leaders is alarming and will have long-lasting effects.”

AASA received more than 900 responses from 47 states (all but Hawaii, Utah and West Virginia participated). Two-thirds (62%) of responses were identified as rural, compared to 29.6% suburban and 8.4% urban.