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As the 2026-27 school year begins, Pennsylvania continues to grapple with a long-term teacher shortage, driven in part by a steep decline in the number of new educators entering the profession.
The state has seen a 67% decrease in the number of individuals obtaining initial teacher certification, emphasizing the growing challenge of maintaining a sufficient teacher pipeline, according to data from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania's schools depend on a strong and stable teacher workforce," state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Lycoming, chair of the Center for Rural PA, said in a statement. "This research gives the General Assembly a detailed look at where teacher shortages are occurring, what is driving them and how those challenges differ across communities. These findings can help inform continued efforts to strengthen Pennsylvania's teacher pipeline and ensure students have access to qualified educators."
The supply of teachers remains insufficient to meet demand, with shortages varying by geography and subject area and influenced by teacher compensation, according to new research by Edward J. Fuller, an associate professor in the College of Education at Penn State University.
Teacher shortages are not uniform across the Commonwealth, according to the study.
While rural districts generally reported fewer vacancies than urban districts, shortages were more pronounced in rural districts located farther from urban areas.
The number of teachers working under emergency permits has also increased substantially in both rural and urban districts since 2020, reaching 7.3% of teachers in urban districts and 4.4% in rural districts in 2024.
An emergency teaching permit is a temporary credential that allows an uncertified person to fill a classroom vacancy when a fully qualified teacher cannot be found.
Teacher attrition is a major driver of the shortage.
Since 2021, annual attrition rates have generally ranged from 6% to 7% in rural districts and 9% or higher in urban districts. Newly hired teachers are significantly more likely to leave after one year than those who have been in their positions longer. The study also found higher attrition rates among Black and multiracial teachers.
Compensation also remains an important factor in teacher retention.
Teachers in lower paying districts were substantially more likely to leave the profession, even after accounting for other teacher and district characteristics, the study found. Rural public school teachers earned approximately $5,000 less on average than urban teachers, even after adjusting for wages of other college-educated workers in the same labor market.
The demand for teachers isn't just about the number of students, according to the study. Although enrollment is declining, the number and share of economically disadvantaged and special education students have increased, while student mental health needs have also grown. Those changes can increase demand for teachers -- even with fewer students overall.
Legislative action
Though the teacher shortage persists, there is bipartisan support for strengthening Pennsylvania's teacher pipeline.
The state has recently taken steps to address the issue, including expanding stipends for student teachers, launching teacher apprenticeship and high school education programs and making it easier for out-of-state educators to obtain certification. Under the Shapiro administration, the wait time for new teacher certifications also dropped from three months to two weeks in 2023.
In June, state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, introduced Senate Bill 295, which would direct a portion of educator certification fees to the Talent Recruitment Account, a program created in the 2022-23 budget to provide grants to colleges for targeted support of students pursuing teacher certification and other efforts to grow the educator workforce. The account has remained unfunded since its creation.
SB 295 awaits consideration by the Senate Education committee.
"While the Commonwealth has made a meaningful effort over the past several years to correct our teacher shortage, it is clear in the data that there is still much left to do," Hughes said in the bill's co-sponsor memo.
Notably, the state's 2026-27 budget increased funding for student teacher stipends to $40 million annually, while eligible student teachers can receive up to $10,000 and commit to teaching in Pennsylvania for three years after certification.
Fuller's study recommends expanding teacher preparation and apprenticeship programs, offering targeted financial incentives and increasing compensation, particularly in high-need subject areas and schools. It also calls for a statewide survey of teacher working conditions and improved state data to better track shortages.
"This research shows that Pennsylvania does not have one teacher shortage with one cause," said Zachary L. Adams, executive director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. "Effective policy will require strategies that strengthen the teacher pipeline while recognizing the particular challenges facing rural and high-need schools."