Statistics 2026

Teacher Shortage Statistics 2026 - Key Facts and Trends

Q: Is it just about the salary?

Salary is a major factor, but support matters just as much. A 2026 report found that 91% of educators would choose a school that offers in-person licensure support over one that doesn't. Teachers want a clear, supported path to professional success, not just a paycheck.

Q: How does a teacher shortage affect my child's daily life?

Beyond just having a substitute, shortages force schools to increase class sizes and cancel specific course offerings. In extreme cases, schools may rely on 'emergency certified' staff who are learning to teach while on the job, which can impact instructional quality.

Q: Are private schools immune to this?

No. While private schools have different hiring regulations, the labor market is competitive nationwide. The 'Global Teacher Shortage' report notes that 60% of international and independent school teachers have considered leaving, showing that burnout is a universal issue.

Q: Is the problem getting better or worse?

It is a mixed picture. While turnover rates have stabilized slightly from the post-pandemic peak of 14%, they remain historically high at around 12%. Vacancies in specific states like Massachusetts and Florida increased significantly in the 2024-25 school year.

When we drop our children off at school, we trust that a qualified, caring expert is waiting to guide them. But new data for 2026 reveals that 1 in 8 teaching positions in the United States is currently either unfilled or held by someone not fully certified for the job. This isn't just an administrative headache; it is a direct challenge to the quality of education our children receive. We've compiled the latest numbers to help families, teachers, and advocates understand the scope of the crisis and, more importantly, how we can work together to solve it.

7 data points 6 sources Updated 2026

Key Takeaways

411,000+ teaching positions are either vacant or filled by under-qualified staff across the U.S.
Special Education, Math, and Science are the hardest subjects to staff, with 45 states reporting shortages.
Schools with high concentrations of students of color are 4 times more likely to rely on uncertified teachers.
Replacing a single teacher costs a district between $12,000 and $25,000 in recruitment and training.
The teacher pipeline is shrinking, with California producing only half as many new teachers in 2022 as it did in 2004.

The Scope of the Crisis

411,000+ ↑

Positions Vacant or Under-Certified

Total teaching positions in the U.S. that are either unfilled or staffed by someone without full certification.

Source: Learning Policy Institute (2025)

The teacher shortage is often discussed as a single number, but it is actually composed of two distinct problems: vacancies (no teacher at all) and under-qualification (a teacher is present but lacks the standard training for that specific role). Current data indicates that approximately 1 in 8 teaching positions nationwide falls into one of these categories.

Breakdown of the National Shortage (2025 Data)

Category	Estimated Count	Impact
Unfilled Vacancies	45,582	Courses cancelled or larger class sizes
Under-Certified Teachers	365,967	Students taught by staff learning on the job
Total Gap	411,549	Affects approx. 1 in 8 classrooms

Source: Learning Policy Institute (2025)

While 45,000 classrooms have no teacher at all, a far larger number - over 365,000 - are staffed by educators who have not yet completed full certification requirements.

Which Subjects are Hardest to Staff?

The shortage does not affect every classroom equally. Finding a qualified elementary school teacher is difficult, but finding a qualified Special Education or Physics teacher has become nearly impossible in some regions. This "specific" shortage means students with the highest needs often face the greatest instability.

States Reporting Shortages by Subject Area (2024-25)

Source: Learning Policy Institute (2025)

45 States →

Report Special Ed Shortages

Nearly every state in the U.S. reports a critical lack of qualified Special Education teachers.

Source: Learning Policy Institute (2025)

Does this mean my child's teacher isn't qualified?

Not necessarily, but the odds depend heavily on your school's demographics. Schools serving the highest concentrations of students of color are 4 times as likely to employ uncertified teachers compared to schools with fewer students of color. You can check your state's Department of Education website for specific licensure data.

State-by-State Breakdown

Geography plays a massive role in the teacher crisis. While some states have stabilized their workforce, others have seen vacancies skyrocket in the last year. For example, Florida reported over 9,000 vacancies for the 2024-25 school year, a sharp increase from previous years.

Teacher Shortage Severity by Selected State (2024-2025)

State	Status / Statistic	Context
Florida	9,000+ Vacancies	Substantial increase from 4,767 in 2022-23
Pennsylvania	1,448 Vacancies	Up from 865 the previous year
Massachusetts	4,800 Vacancies	Sharp rise from <100 reported in 2023-24
Michigan	5% Non-Certified	1 in 20 teachers lacks full certification

Source: TeacherShortages.com (Kansas State/Missouri Researchers) (2025)

44% ↑

Of Schools Have Vacancies

Nearly half of all public schools nationwide reported at least one teaching vacancy.

Source: Devlin Peck / Scholaroo (2025)

The crisis is highly localized; Massachusetts saw vacancies surge from under 100 to 4,800 in a single year, proving that even historically stable states are now vulnerable.

Why Are Teachers Leaving?

The shortage is driven less by retirement and more by active resignation. Teachers are leaving for better pay, better working conditions, and more professional support. In the global market, 60% of international educators have considered leaving the profession due to burnout and administrative burdens.

$12k - $25k ↑

Cost to Replace One Teacher

School districts spend this amount on recruitment and training every time a teacher leaves.

Source: Learning Policy Institute (2025)

Teacher Turnover Rate Trends

Source: TeacherShortages.com (Kansas State/Missouri Researchers) (2025)

Is it just about the salary?

Salary is a major factor, but support matters just as much. A 2026 report found that 91% of educators would choose a school that offers in-person licensure support over one that doesn't. Teachers want a clear, supported path to professional success, not just a paycheck.

The Future: Pipeline and Solutions

To fix this, we need more than just retention; we need a new generation of teachers. Unfortunately, the pipeline is narrowing. In California alone, the number of new teachers produced in 2022 was only 50% of the volume seen in 2004.

44% →

Candidates Blocked by Cost

Nearly half of potential teachers are held back solely by the financial cost of licensing.

Source: Teach Away (2026)

What Families Can Do

Ask your school board about 'Grow Your Own' programs that recruit local community members.
Support local tax levies specifically designated for teacher salary increases and mentoring.
Volunteer for non-instructional tasks (lunch duty, library) to reduce teacher burnout.

What Schools Must Do (Based on Data)

Implement paid teacher residencies to remove the financial barrier to entry.
Focus on induction and mentoring - support in the first 2 years significantly improves retention.
Hire early: Vacancy rates are lower in districts that complete hiring before July.

Common Questions from Families

How does a teacher shortage affect my child's daily life?

Beyond just having a substitute, shortages force schools to increase class sizes and cancel specific course offerings. In extreme cases, schools may rely on 'emergency certified' staff who are learning to teach while on the job, which can impact instructional quality.

Are private schools immune to this?

No. While private schools have different hiring regulations, the labor market is competitive nationwide. The 'Global Teacher Shortage' report notes that 60% of international and independent school teachers have considered leaving, showing that burnout is a universal issue.

Is the problem getting better or worse?

It is a mixed picture. While turnover rates have stabilized slightly from the post-pandemic peak of 14%, they remain historically high at around 12%. Vacancies in specific states like Massachusetts and Florida increased significantly in the 2024-25 school year.

Sources (6)

1.
Learning Policy Institute (2025) https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/overview-teacher-shortages-2025-factsheet
2.
TeacherShortages.com (Kansas State/Missouri Researchers) (2025) https://www.teachershortages.com/
3.
Devlin Peck / Scholaroo (2025) https://www.devlinpeck.com/content/teacher-shortage-by-state
4.
Teach Away (2026) https://www.teachaway.com/recruitment/blog/solving-global-teacher-shortage-2026-recruitment-report
5.
Educators Rising (2026) https://educatorsrising.org/teacher-shortage-by-the-numbers/
6.
Michigan State University (EPIC) (2026) https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2026/01/teacher-shortage-report