Teacher shortage

A survey of teachers across the state reveals concerns about the costs of being in the profession, the lack of professional development and the need for improved diversity in the workforce.

Due to staff shortages, some teachers are educating students on two different subjects, one in their area of training and one that isn't.

Jackson Green, the principal of the Sumner Learning Campus in Hancock County, wrote a letter to Maine's two U.S. senators this month to draw attention to the dire situation, noting that for the upcoming school year, 80% of his school's new teachers lack an appropriate teaching certificate.

Some Maine school districts say they still have dozens of open teaching positions as the school year approaches, but that shortages have substantially eased since the pandemic.

One of the measures heard by the legislature's education committee on Tuesday would allow the state to reissue teaching certificates to retired teachers whose certification had lapsed.

The school says it will now require students to spend 200 hours in the classroom before starting their advanced field work and student teaching.

Some school officials in Maine say that a state law passed earlier this year could help them bring in retired teachers to fill vacant teaching jobs.The…

Maine's Department of Education has proposed new rules that would make it easier for some people to become teachers. Instead of having to take a teacher…

Maine schools are struggling with a shortage of teachers, particularly for areas such as Special Ed and world languages. How do we compare with other…