Key Takeaways
- CERRA's 2021-2022 Annual Educator Supply and Demand Report reveals a record number of educator vacancies this year.
- The SCEA will hold a Facebook Live Panel with Dr. Jennifer Garrett of CERRA Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
- Legislators must address the alarming educator shortage crisis by focusing on 3 key areas.
COLUMBIA – Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA) will hold a Facebook Live Panel with Dr. Jennifer Garrett of the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement (CERRA) to draw attention to South Carolina’s growing teacher shortage crisis, as highlighted in CERRA’s 2021-2022 Annual Educator Supply and Demand Report.
According to the report, departures have risen by 15.5%, as approximately 6,900 teachers from 2020/2021 did not return to a teaching/service position in the same district this school year. More alarming, the report reveals there are a record number of vacancies this year.
“We are excited to host this Live Panel to discuss CERRA’s report and how clearly it reveals the landscape of the education profession in South Carolina,” said The SCEA President Sherry East. “Each vacancy represented in this report corresponds to real-world learning conditions and classrooms where students are left without the highly-qualified and credentialed educator they deserve.”
As of September/October, South Carolina school districts reported 1,063 vacant positions—a 52% increase over last year and the largest number of vacancies since CERRA began issuing the Supply and Demand report in 2001.
“CERRA’s recent Supply and Demand report confirms what many in public education already knew—the existing educator shortage has grown to crisis levels,” said East. “It’s time for our legislature to address the crisis by listening to the educators. To do this, South Carolina must address the working conditions and take action to recruit and retain educators. Working conditions are learning conditions, and South Carolina students deserve better.”
The SCEA Legislative Agenda urges legislators to address the educator shortage crisis by focusing on 3 key areas: Funding and compensation, unencumbered time and recertification, and professional contracts. Read more about The SCEA Legislative Priorities for stopping the educator shortage here.
Tune into The SCEA’s discussion with Dr. Garrett of CERRA live tomorrow, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. on Facebook. The link to get a reminder for the livestream can be found here.
