Public schools across the United States continue to grapple with teacher shortages ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. According to the latest School Pulse Panel (SPP) data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), schools on average reported six open teacher positions before the start of the school year. By the first day of school, 79 percent of these positions were filled, showing a slight improvement compared to previous years. However, staffing challenges persist, especially in specialised fields.
Teacher Vacancies by Subject
Despite improvements, schools are still struggling to fill vacancies, particularly in special education and English as a Second Language (ESL) positions. The NCES survey, conducted from August 13-27, 2024, showed that 74 percent of schools faced difficulties in recruiting special education teachers, while 69 percent of high schools reported struggles with ESL recruitment.
Position | Filled | Unfilled |
All Teaching Positions | 79% | 21% |
Special Education | 77% | 23% |
ESL/Bilingual Education | 75% | 25% |
Challenges in Filling Non-Teaching Roles
Schools also faced challenges in hiring non-teaching staff, with 40 percent of transportation staff vacancies left unfilled. However, there was a slight improvement in filling these roles compared to last year. About 73 percent of non-teaching positions were filled by the start of the 2024-25 school year, compared to 69 percent in the previous year.
Non-Teaching Position | Filled | Unfilled |
All Non-Teaching Positions | 73% | 27% |
Classroom Aide | 74% | 26% |
Custodial Staff | 74% | 26% |
Transportation Staff | 60% | 40% |
Decline in Wraparound Services
As schools face these staffing shortages, the survey also reveals a decline in the availability of wraparound services. Only 48 percent of schools now use a community school model to provide additional support like mental health care and nutrition services. This marks a significant drop from 60 percent in 2023-24.
With the federal Covid-19 relief funds set to expire, schools are struggling to maintain these services, further highlighting the challenges in the post-pandemic educational landscape.