Key Takeaways
- The report by CERRA demonstrates that the shortage is larger than ever and growing.
- Elected officials must act now to ensure every child has the resources and education they need to succeed.
- “CERRA’s report confirms what educators have been saying for years: Band-aids, gimmicks, and temporary measures haven’t stopped the educator shortage crisis.”
COLUMBIA — On Thursday morning, the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement (CERRA) released its annual Educator Supply and Demand report detailing information on teachers entering the profession, those leaving their classrooms or the profession altogether, and positions that remain vacant.
The 2022-2023 report shows that educator departures have steadily increased since 2020-21, with the most recent jump of 20%. The report also states that this school year began with 1,474 vacant positions compared to 1,063 the 2021-2022 year.
In response to the dire picture the report paints, The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA) President Sherry East urged decision makers to enact systemic, lasting change to address the deepening educator shortage crisis.
“All children in South Carolina—from Cherokee to Charleston, Horry to Edgefield—deserve to have a qualified educator in their classroom. Each vacancy represents a classroom without the educator our students deserve,” said The SCEA President Sherry East. “CERRA’s report confirms what educators have been saying for years: Band-aids, gimmicks, and temporary measures haven’t stopped the educator shortage crisis.”
The report by CERRA demonstrates that the shortage is larger than ever and growing. Elected officials must act now to ensure every child—regardless of race, place, or faith—has the resources and education they need to succeed. Long-term strategies and solutions that are effective at recruiting and retaining educators and, most importantly, reflect the needs and priorities of educators themselves, do exist.
“Our most vulnerable students are impacted most by this crisis. By listening to educators with a real, lasting commitment to systemic change, we can solve the educator shortage crisis,” said East. “Research shows that professional pay, improved working conditions, with respect and autonomy for educators will make the difference. All of these are reflected in the legislative agenda approved by The SCEA members for the 2023 legislative session.”
To read The SCEA’s full legislative agenda and learn more, head to thescea.org/legagenda. To learn more about evidence-based, long-term strategies that address both recruitment and retention, click here.
