by PRP Group, on 12/15/2023
Education experts have found the ongoing teacher shortage has lowered graduation rates and disproportionately impacts students who are already marginalized.
The National Center for Education Statistics shares that 45 percent of public schools report feeling they are understaffed for the 2023-24 school year.
There are many reasons behind the teacher shortage, but an alternative teaching certification program that's growing could be a possible solution.
Liliam Lujan Hickey Elementary School third grade teacher Christina Day spent five years substitute teaching, but recently became a certified licensed teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada, thanks to teach.
It's an alternative teaching certification program that started two decades ago in Texas.
iteach president Andrew Rozell says it's now expanded into eleven states: Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.