Ohio faces teacher shortage, underlying factors revealed in recent report

By Zack Frink, Elevate Dayton

A report by the Ohio Department of Education is revealing a need for teachers in Southwest Ohio, with low initial pay, childcare requirements and lack of respect for educators cited as hindrances, reported by the Dayton Daily News.

The big picture: the ODE report reveals troubling trends.

• A growing percentage of teachers instruct outside their certification scope.

• Around 20% of teachers have less than five years of experience.

• An increasing number of certified teachers are shifting towards administrative roles or leaving the profession entirely.

Driving the news: Teacher shortages are being observed across the board, not only in traditionally affected urban and rural areas.

• The problem persists even in affluent districts that offer high salaries and benefits.

By the numbers: In 2022, there were 216,442 credentialed teachers in Ohio.

• But only 138,186 were working in schools, and 110,147 credentialed teachers were actively teaching. 

What we're hearing: The lack of childcare is a significant factor contributing to the teacher shortage.

• A trend has been noted where one parent, often a woman, opts to stay home with young children due to childcare costs.

• This is significant, as women comprise about 75% of teachers, according to ODE.

Between the lines: The teacher to student ratios in public schools are at historic lows, largely due to reduced student enrollments in public schools and a declining birth rate in Ohio since 2015. 

Key follow up: ODE staffers believe there is more data to be explored, such as the reasons why those with active licenses aren't currently working.

The bottom line: The teacher shortage in Ohio, particularly Southwest Ohio, is a multifaceted issue that will require comprehensive solutions addressing teachers' pay, childcare, and professional respect.