CT Education Group Considers Remedies for Ongoing Teacher Shortage

As kids return to school, Connecticut's teacher shortage will seriously impact the new school year.

The state's Department of Education finds numerous school departments are facing a shortage of staff. Surveys and studies show the shortage has been brewing for years now, with teacher burnout as a result. While the state is offering a swath of incentives to lure new teachers to public schools, education experts feel more can be done.

Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said one solution being considered is having the state join the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.

"I think that there's a lot of conversations about does that make sense for us, how does that marry with our reciprocity that we have widened, and I always appreciate a cautious approach," Dias stated. "But I also think that the conversation out of necessity has shifted to what makes the most sense to us at this point."

She noted another question being considered is whether Connecticut's education standards could be maintained. Though Dias is not ruling out the compact, she and other state education experts feel there could be other solutions to solving the state's teacher shortage. So far, 10 states have joined the compact with five others considering being a part of it.

Along with the challenges it presents for teachers, it also has effects on students. In addition to shortages shutting down schools, Dias said the biggest concern is growing class sizes.

"We know that sort of the sweet spot in education is enough students to have a healthy, fun interaction, and not overwhelm the learning space, and that ends up being in that 20 to 22 range," Dias explained. "When your class sizes start to creep up there, you really start having a diminishing amount of attention."

Dias added dated practices such as asking student teachers to pay for being a worker and high college tuition costs have been a deterrent for people to pursue a career in education. The Center for American Progress reported such costs caused a drop in enrollment by one third between 2010 and 2018.

This story written and reported by Edwin J. Viera of the Connecticut News Service, a statewide news service for Connecticut.