Top 10 States Fighting the Teacher Shortage

With over 15 years of experience in the educational technology field, it is no surprise that schools from various states across the country have partnered with Proximity Learning. Our synchronous virtual instruction model has made its way into many classrooms as school districts adopt teacher shortage solutions to prevent students from falling behind. While staffing vacancies tend to be a recurring challenge, Proximity partners avoid it by connecting with fully certified teachers who are ready to teach in a wide array of subjects. 

Staffing Industry Analysts recently reported that education staffing is forecasted to grow by 5% this year to $3.2 billion, partly due to schools relying on “external partners to keep classrooms staffed and students learning.” Among these external partners, Proximity Learning is cited as a “new teaching model[s] to solve teacher shortages.” But the only numbers we’re focused on are the number of students receiving a great education. We know an in-person teacher is the best option, but when one isn’t available locally, we’re ready to step in from anywhere.

Where does Proximity Learning operate?

Proximity Learning operates in most states throughout the nation, offering live synchronous instruction to K-12 schools. The following list guides you through ten of the states where Proximity Learning is a trusted partner.

1. New Jersey

New Jersey has been actively addressing the teacher shortage by enacting new laws, such as Bill S1287, which removes the Praxis Core exam from teaching certification requirements. Although New Jersey is one of the states with the lowest teacher shortages, certain school districts still feel the weight of teacher vacancies and underqualifications. According to Teacher Shortages, New Jersey reported in 2022-2023:

• 196+ teacher vacancies
• 11,417 underqualified teachers

Paterson Public Schools is one of many school districts that were in the midst of a teaching hiring crisis. But after partnering with Proximity Learning, their 150 teaching vacancies went down to 65. Principal Derrick Hoff of School 26 understands what districts can do to address teaching shortages: “You have a vacancy? You get a remote teacher until you find someone to fill the vacancy.”

2. Texas

In Texas, education officials are trying to reduce the number of uncertified teachers. The Texas Education Agency reported that 31% of new teacher hires in 2024-2025 lacked a teaching certification. Texas House Bill 2 acknowledges this by setting a gradual cap on the percentage of uncertified teachers that school districts can employ in core curriculum classes. Texas reported in 2023-2024:

• 546+ teacher vacancies
• 83,619 underqualified teachers

With rural areas being some of the toughest places to hire subject-specific teachers, the Kountze Independent School District partnered with Proximity Learning to fill the gap left behind when they needed a Spanish teacher. Cathy Marshall, the Middle School Principal for Kountze ISD, said, “As administrators, when we do walkthroughs, we are seeing that these students are engaged with the learning, with the teacher, and with the technology.” Despite the distance, Proximity Learning can guarantee quality instruction to your classrooms so your students don’t have to hit pause on their education. 

3. Illinois

In an effort to combat the teacher shortage, Illinois enacted House Bill 5057 last year, allowing teacher candidates to student teach before passing content area tests. While being a means to an end, school districts know that unqualified teachers may not get them the results they’re looking for. Illinois reported:

• 4,096 teacher vacancies in 2023-2024
• 9,114 underqualified teachers in 2022-2023

One of the Illinois school districts that Proximity Learning has had the pleasure of working with for over eight years is the Posen-Robbins School District. With various hard-to-fill positions, Posen-Robbins continues to turn to Proximity for qualified help. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anthony Edison said, “We have used Proximity Learning to cover those voids and to assist us in our overall staffing. It’s been successful, which is why we keep coming back to it.”

4. South Carolina

South Carolina school districts saw a 35% decrease in teacher vacancies compared to 2023-2024, according to its Annual Educator Supply and Demand Report. Tackling the teacher shortage is nothing new in South Carolina, as its appointed Strategic Talent Acquisition and Retention Taskforce works to analyze surveys and data to make recommendations for the Department and State Board of Education. Director of Governmental Affairs for Palmetto State Teachers Associations, Patrick Kelly, sums up a main point of the taskforce’s report: “The number one in-school factor on student achievement is the quality of the teacher in the classroom.”

In 2023-2024, South Carolina reported:

• 1,379 teacher vacancies
• 8,223 underqualified teachers

The Lexington-Richland school district responded to the teacher shortage by hiring Proximity Learning teachers to fill some of their vacancies. Director of Virtual Learning Jina Blount said, “What’s great is, there’s no loss of learning. There's a certified teacher who continues to teach students, to work with them.” A screen does not stop our teachers from making real connections and accompanying students every step of the way. 

5. Georgia

As of December 2024, Georgia public schools were short 5,300 teachers. With retiring teachers and young teacher burnout, schools are struggling to find staffing replacements. To fill these increasing vacancies, Georgia continues to rely on House Bill 385, which allows retired teachers with 30 years of service to return to the classroom with full pay and pension if they sit out for one year. However, retirees who return to the classroom only represent 1% of Georgia’s teacher workforce.

Georgia last reported in 2022-2023:

• 21,041 unqualified teachers

Newton County School District was having trouble finding qualified teachers before it partnered with Proximity Learning. The district was impressed that in addition to constant feedback during online class sessions, small group facilitators ensured that students who may need additional support were being helped. Equipped with the best teachers in ELA, math, science, and social studies, Proximity ensured a quality education for Newton County’s students. ‍

6. Virginia

Like other states, Virginia is bending where it can to have teachers in its classrooms. The state enacted SB 1230 to extend temporary teachers’ teaching days from 90 to 180. The previous summer, Virginia was able to close the teacher vacancy rate from 4.7% to 3.4% but unfortunately, the gap remains. In 2023-2024, Virginia reported:

• 3,649 teacher vacancies
• 83,619 unqualified teachers

Portsmouth Public Schools adopted Proximity Learning’s innovative model to combat their own teacher shortages. Dr. Nicole DeVries, Chief Academic Officer of the district, witnessed how easy and effective it was to integrate Proximity Learning: ”I was very pleased with how the growth progressed, not just with our partnership but with our processes and procedures around how we do the ins and outs of the school day.”

7. West Virginia

In West Virginia, new initiatives make sure empty classrooms are not only being filled with certified teachers but also retaining them as well. West Virginia University is actively reinforcing teachers’ credentials through its partnership with Kanawha County Schools that allows local teachers to obtain their master's degrees in Literacy Education. West Virginia reported in 2023-2024:

• 1,500 teacher vacancies
• 2,580 underqualified teachers

Wyoming County Schools decided to work with Proximity Learning to help train their own teachers who are in the process of being certified while filling teacher vacancies. Kara Mitchell, Director of Academic Programs at the district, said Proximity’s model, “Can really meet a lot of diverse needs. It’s not just the teacher lecturing and the students taking notes. There’s so much more interaction and relationship building.”

8. Indiana

The teacher shortage in Indiana continues to persist, and the pipeline is drying up, especially after a new law requires Indiana public colleges and universities to seek approval from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to continue degree programs with fewer than a minimum number of students enrolled. According to the Indianapolis Star, this has caused six state universities to preemptively cut or consolidate 71 education degrees and more than a dozen master of arts in teaching degrees. Indiana last reported:

• 1,170 teacher vacancies in 2023-2024
• 5,907 unqualified teachers in 2021-2022

Gary Community Schools was looking for fully certified teachers to instruct their students, and Proximity Learning was able to provide them with just that. Dr. Yvonne Stokes, the Superintendent for the district, said, “You can't just have boots on the ground; you also have to have someone who understands the science of reading, who understands what it takes to support children and move the needle academically.” For Gary Community Schools, having a qualified teacher providing quality instruction was of the utmost importance over simply having an underqualified in-person teacher.

9. Florida

Florida faces a common struggle as its teacher shortage decreases, but the number of courses taught by uncertified teachers in their assigned subject area has risen by 16%. The Florida Education Association’s recent press release shows that despite a decline in teacher vacancies, thousands of students have begun the school year without a certified and permanent teacher. Florida last reported in 2022-2023:

• 4,767 teacher vacancies
• 23,825 unqualified teachers

America’s Little Leaders Junior Academy is one of many schools where Proximity Learning has been used to alleviate the teacher shortage. “I would have never thought this in my 20 years of experience that we would be online," Principal Abbie Sanks said. "We could offer so many options and reach so many children.” Proximity is ready to teach from an extensive course catalog that is built to meet the needs of all students.

10. Arkansas

Back in 2023, Arkansas saw the passing of the LEARNS Act intended to change various parts of the state’s education system. In an attempt to improve teacher retention, part of the changes increased the minimum teacher salary from $36,000 to $50,000. In 2025, Arkansas will remain in a teaching shortage crisis as many teachers choose to leave the profession. The state reported in 2022-2023:

• Unreported number of teacher vacancies
• 4,956 underqualified teachers

President of the Arkansas Education Association, April Reisma, attributes the lack of respect for teachers as part of the reason for the shortage. Teaching is no easy feat, and without the appropriate instructors in classrooms, students are increasingly negatively affected. While your school works to find in-person instructors, Proximity Learning teachers are ready to keep class in session and students engaged.

Proximity Learning works across the United States

Proximity Learning’s synchronous virtual instruction model allows students to connect with teachers no matter where they are. School districts across the country put their trust in Proximity Learning and have seen the benefits. We’re not here to replace your teachers; we’re here to help ensure your students keep moving forward. 

Even when short-staffed, every kid deserves a quality learning experience. Contact us today to learn how we can provide teacher shortage solutions and a supportive environment for your students to grow in.