There have been reports of a shortage of high school teachers in the US for many years. Even after the Great Recession (2007-2009) when the US started hiring teachers, finding qualified teachers has always been a huge challenge.  In reality, because of the high migration rate, the number of students in public schools is growing and the availability of teachers is shrinking. And obviously, more high school students mean more the requirements of high school teachers. Some schools are even believed to be combining classes as they don’t have resources. Needless to say, if a large group of students in a class is handled by one teacher it will affect the students’ learning adversely.  In fact, the educationalists call this massive teacher shortage in the United States a “crisis”. This shortage is largely in fields like maths, science, and bilingual education. There has been a huge turnover rate of teachers in the United States over the years across the country. Teachers are either quitting their jobs or not interested in applying for teaching positions. Is it because it’s a low paying job? No, it’s a lot more than that. Unbalanced Student-Faculty Ratio So what’s the reason behind this disproportionate student-teacher ratio in the United States?  TEFL Certification in India 45-min online masterclass with skill certification on completion $99 FREE Access Expires in 24Hrs Register Now for Free Upcoming Batches of TEFL Course :- Batch Mode Price To Enrol Starts Every Week Live Virtual Classroom 26500 ENROLL NOW The school teacher requirements in the United States are much larger than we thought. In 2012, while the country encountered a shortage of 20,000 faculty members, by 2017 it rose up to 110,000.  And as of 2019, the number peaked up to a whopping 300,000. There are many reasons for it. Many educators are leaving the teaching field due to longer working hours compared to other countries. So, a lot of qualified teachers are either quitting or looking out for more opportunities outside the teaching field. It’s a very low paying profession in the United States. Some teachers who have a master’s degree and even a Ph.D. feel that they are not financially compensated for their work. Poor working conditions and lack of support are also said to be a major issue. Unlike the past, these days, teachers’ responsibilities in the US are much more. In the past, teachers used to prepare for the classes and teach. But now, teachers have to play multiple roles, as a school nurse, therapist, data-tracker, research presenter, and many more. The massive layoffs in the Great Recession period are also a reason for teachers to quit their jobs and looking out for alternative jobs. As a result, teachers lost interest in entering the teacher preparation programs. To fill the gap, schools had to hire a lot of unlicensed undergraduate teachers. The increase in the number of students due to the high migration rate has also highly affected the teacher-student ratio adversely. Teachers who are not properly trained often leave the job much quicker because teaching is a profession that needs a lot of skills and patience. Unless they have a passion for teaching and adequately trained, schools will become a miserable place for them. Another reason is in spite of being so highly qualified and underpaid professionals, teachers are getting blamed for the broken education system. This also makes them quite the job and choose other professions which pay much better. And one of the biggest reasons for the scarcity of teachers in the United States is a question that needs to be answered. Do people in the country really value teachers compared to other countries like Finland and India?” The answer is no. Despite doing such a reputable job, teachers don’t get the respect they deserve by  American society.  A lot of people in America think that teaching students from K-12 is a glorified form of parenthood. But it’s much more that. More than just lecturing, keeping the students engaged in the class is one of the major challenges that teachers face. Also Read: Top 15 Free TEFL Certification in 2021 High School Teacher Requirements A high school teacher in the United States teaches students from ninth to twelfth grade with the aim of preparing students for Universities. Apart from just being an instructor, their job is also to help children in other extracurricular activities. They also possess special skills to handle teenagers with calmness and patience. Some common high school teacher requirements are as follows You should have a bachelor’s degree though some states ask for a master’s degree. Teachers should also go through something called the teacher preparation program and complete the exam to demonstrate your proficiency in the subject of your interest. You should also finish an internship in teaching; major areas like maths and science have high employment rates. Get the relevant license as per the state requirement. By acquiring a licensed certification you can also prevent hiring untrained teachers which is a serious concern. The Scarcity of Teachers is Much Deeper  Even though the economy revitalized after the Great Recession in 2008, there is still a skyrocketing number of teachers with just a bachelor’s degree. In the US there are still hundreds and thousands of licensed high school teacher requirements. The Learning Policy Institute in 2016 estimated that the demand for teachers would rise as high as 300,000 by 2021. But the actual figure may go even higher because not all states in the US contribute to these statistics. However,  there is still a staggering shortage. They also point out a decline in the number of people who enrol in the teacher preparation programs which is again a major concern. Because of the inadequate licensed teachers, schools are forced to hire unskilled and untrained teachers to fill the gap. As you know, poor quality teaching can have a negative impact on students’ performance and personality. Teachers’ Perks Despite the fact that high school teacher requirements are so high, teaching is one … Continue reading 7 States In The US With High School Teacher Requirements in 2024 [Updated]