Colorado’s teacher shortage is growing worse.
That’s according to a recently released report by the state’s Department of Education and Department of Higher Education. The report says since 2010, the number of potential teachers completing an educator-preparation program within Colorado has plummeted by nearly one-quarter. It dropped by more than 2 percent over just the past year. The trend mirrors national and global patterns. The report says fewer than 5 percent of high-school students want to become educators. They cite concerns about job instability, teacher-evaluation systems, and low salaries. The report notes that the teacher shortage is having an especially dramatic impact on rural school districts.
