The teacher shortage problem does not affect all communities equally. This section will help you learn where talented, committed, well-prepared new teachers are needed most.

Silent Crisis
Experts predict that over the next ten years the nation will need 2.2 to 2.4 million teachers. That means there will be 150,000 to 250,000 openings for teachers in the nation's elementary and secondary schools. The needs are greatest in urban and rural communities and in curricular areas such as special education, mathematics, science, bilingual education, and English as a second language.

The shortages continue because while student enrollments are rising, teachers continue to retire and many new teachers leave the profession in the first few years. Consider these facts:

•According to NCES' Projections of Educational Statistics to 2012, by 2005, public and private school enrollment is expected to rise to about 54 million.

•According to the 1999-2000 NCES Schools and Staffing Survey:
Between 2000 and 2008, enrollment in public high schools is expected to increase by 4%. More than 25% of teachers are at least 50 years old and the median age is 44. Many school reform efforts call for class-size reduction, which requires more teachers.

In addition, many classrooms are being taught by "out-of-field" individuals who don't have a degree in the field they are teaching. According to a 2002 Education Trust report, approximately 24% of secondary school teachers of core subjects have neither a college major nor a minor in their primary field. This is at its worst in urban and rural areas -- leaving students in the most
challenging classrooms with the least qualified teachers.

Where are Teachers Needed Most?
Teacher shortages are particularly acute in urban and rural areas, where there is an immediate need to fill teaching positions in all subject areas, from elementary grades to high school classes. In addition, states with rapidly growing populations, such as California, Texas, Nevada, North Carolina, and Florida, are experiencing chronic shortages, especially to meet the
challenges of their increasing numbers of students of color.

What kinds of teachers are needed most?

Mathematics and Science Teachers.
According to a 2002 NCES report on qualifications of public school teachers, 37% of high school math teachers and 31% of science teachers lack a major or certification in their field. Similarly, 69% of math teachers and 57% of science teachers lack a major or certification in their field. According to RNT's 2000 study of the largest urban school districts, nearly 98% of responding districts noted an immediate demand for science teachers and 95% reported an immediate demand for mathematics teachers. Shortage of qualified mathematics and science teachers comes just when the expectations for what
students should know in these subjects are rising.

Bilingual Educators
As the number of non-English-speaking students has grown, so has the demand for teachers who specialize in teaching students with limited English proficiency (known as LEP students). These teachers are able to speak and teach in languages in addition to English or are trained to teach students just learning English.

According to RNT's 2000 study of the largest urban school districts, nearly 73% of responding districts noted an immediate need for ESL bilingual teachers. For more information on bilingual education, visit the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition & Language Instruction Educational Programs, and the Department of Education's Spanish Resources and Teachers of English as a Second Language.

Special Educators
Special educators teach students with mental, behavioral, sensory, physical, or learning disabilities. According to RNT's 2000 study of the largest urban school districts, almost 98% of responding districts reported an immediate need for special education teachers. For more information on careers in special education, visit the National Clearinghouse for Professions in
Special Education.

Teachers of Color
While America's school-age population is becoming more multicultural and multi-ethnic, its teaching workforce reflects a trend in the opposite direction. Teachers of color are in high demand in all subjects, grade levels, and geographic areas.

According to RNT's 2000 study of the largest urban school districts, almost 73% of responding districts reported an immediate need for teachers of color. According to a 2003 National Commission on Teaching and America's Future report, individuals of African/American, Hispanic and Latino, Asian, and
Native American descent make up 14% of K–12 teachers, while 36% of students are from such backgrounds.

Male Teachers
According to RNT's 2000 study of the largest urban school districts, just over 80% of the largest urban school districts reported an immediate demand for male teachers at the elementary level.