Teacher shortages have become a major issue in schools across the United States. Many districts are struggling to find qualified teachers, and some classrooms are going without permanent instruction for months. Because of this, school leaders have had to come up with different ways to fill vacancies while still making sure students receive a quality education.
In this blog, we’ll look at the causes and effects of the teacher shortage and discuss five teacher shortage solutions that district use today. Each solution has its own advantages and disadvantages, but some are more effective tha others.
Understanding the Teacher Shortage Crisis
The teacher shortage is not just a temporary problem. According to the American College of Education, it is “a structural crisis driven by policy instability, economic pressures and undervaluing the teacher profession.” (ACE, 2025). In other words, there are deeper issues causing teachers to leave the profession and fewer people choosing to become teachers.
The situation is affecting schools across the country. The American College of Education reports that, “more than 400,000 teacher positions in 2025 are either unfilled or filled by those with inadequate teacher certification.” The report also states that “45% of American public schools report feeling understaffed for the 2023-24 school year.”
What Is Causing the Teacher Shortage?
There are several reasons why teacher shortages have become such a big proble. According to Freedom in Education, “Contributing factors include burnout, low pay, poor working conditions, and insufficient support for educators.” Many teacher are overwhelmed by their workloads and feel like they do not receive enough support from their schools.
Other common causes include:
- Poor support for new teachers
- Not enough mentoring and professional development
- Increasing job demands
- Low enrollment in teacher preparation programs
Freedom in Education also reports that “Teacher attrition accounts for 90% of new staffing needs.” This means that most staffing shortages happen because teachers are leaving the profession rather than because schools are adding new positions.
How Teacher Shortages Affect Students and Schools
Teacher shortages affect more than just staffing numbers. They can have a major impact on students and learning. According to Neumann University, “The impact of teacher shortages extends beyond individual classrooms. It affects the quality of education, student outcomes and the overall educational system.”
Some of the biggest effects include:
- Larger class sizes
- Fewer course and extracurricular options
- Increased teacher workloads
- A widening achievement gap between students
When teachers have too many students or too many responsibilities, it becomes harder for them to give every student the attention they need to succeed.
Top 5 Teacher Shortage Solutions
1. Live Virtual Instruction (Proximity Learning)
One of the most effective teacher shortage solutions is live virtual instruction. Unlike AI programs or self-paced online courses, students are taught by certified teachers in real time every school day.
Pros:
- Vacancies can be filled quickly
- Students learn from certified teachers
- Schools can continue offering important courses
- Provides consistent, high-quality instruction
- Helps prevent learning disruptions
Cons:
- Requires reliable technology and internet access
- Schools may need some training before implementation
Why Proximity Learning Is the Best Solution
Proximity Learning has been providing live virtual instruction since 2009 and has staffed more than 5,000 classrooms across the country. It is a quick and easy solution to fill vacancies yet still give students the education they need to thrive in school. Many districts choose Proximity Learning because it offers:
- Quick staffing solutions that can fill vacancies in days instead of months
- Reliable support from certified teachers
- High-quality synchronous instruction, meaning students learn live with a teacher every day
- More than 16 years of experience working with public schools
Unlike many other solutions, Proximity Learning allows schools to solve staffing problems immediately while still giving students access to qualified teachers and quality instruction.
2. Increasing Class Sizes
Some districts deal with teacher shortages by placing more students in existing classrooms.
Pros:
- Does not require immediate hiring
- Easy to implement quickly
- Allows classes to continue operating
Cons:
- Less individual attention for students
- More stress and burnout for teachers
- Can hurt student performance
- May cause even more teachers to leave
While this solution can help temporarily, it is usually not a good long-term option.
3. Hiring Long-Term Substitute Teachers
Another common solution is hiring long-term substitute teachers to cover vacant positions. While this is beneficial to fill any position quickly, it doesn’t provide students with the education they need.
Pros:
- Can fill positions quickly
- Provides supervision and structure
- Flexible staffing option
Cons:
- Some substitutes may not be certified in the subject area
- Instruction quality may vary
- Students may experience learning apps
- Usually only works as a temporary solution
Long-term substitutes can help keep classrooms running, but they often cannot provide the same level of instruction as a certified teacher.
4. Improving Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Many states and districts are working on ways to attract new teachers and keep current teachers in the profession by opening up opportunities for more responsibility and pay for teachers. According to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, “Maryland, for instance, promotes a “career ladder” program in which educators take on new responsibilities (and added salary) as their careers progress while continuing to teach.” Which causes for teachers to be satisfied and willing to stay in the profession.
Pros:
- Encourages teachers to stay in the profession
- Improves job satisfaction
- Creates leadership opportunities
- Helps build stronger school communities
Cons:
- Can be expensive
- Takes time to show results
- Does not solve immediate staffing shortages
Although recruitment and retention programs are important, they are more of a long-term solution. It takes time to take effect, and doesn’t completely solve staffing shortages as quickly or efficiently as other solutions do.
5. Creating Teacher Pipelines Through Grow Your Own Programs
Many districts have started developing “Grow Your Own” programs and teacher residencies. These programs help community members become teachers and encourage them to return to work in local schools. The Learning Policy Institute mentioned in their research brief that, “Grow Your Own programs recruit talented individuals from the community. Teacher residencies are district-university partnerships that recruit talented candidates to work as paid apprentices to expert teachers in high-need fields while candidates simultaneously complete their credential and commit to teach for several years.” Which helps districts prepare for long-term future shortage solutions.
Pros:
- Creates a steady supply of future teachers
- Strengthens connections between schools and communities
- Helps districts hire local talent
- Supports long-term staffing needs
Cons:
- Takes several years to produce new teachers
- Requires funding and planning
- Does not fill current vacancies right away
These programs can help prevent future shrtages, but they are not a quick fix for districts that need teachers as soon as possible.
Choosing the Right Solution
There is no single solution that completely solves the teacher shortage. Some options, like teacher recruitment programs and Grow Your Own initiatives, help schools prepare for the future. Others, like increasing class sizes and hiring substitutes, can help in the short term but may create additional challenges. However, for districts that need immediate help, live virtual instruction stands out as one of the strongest options. Students continue learning from certified teachers, schools can keep offering important courses, and vacancies can be filled much faster than with traditional hiring methods.
Learn How Proximity Learning Can Help
Teacher shortages do not have to mean canceled classes, larger class sizes, or lower-quality instruction. Proximity Learning helps districts quickly fill vacancies with certified teachers who provide live, synchronous instruction every school day. With more than 16 years of experience and over 5,000 classrooms staffed nationwide, Proximity Learning gives schools a reliable way to address teacher shortages while maintaining educational quality.
Schedule a meeting today to learn how Proximity Learning can help your district solve teacher shortages quickly and effectively
