Oklahoma has experienced one of the highest teacher shortages in the United States for the past decade due to low teacher salaries, budget cuts and a lack of resources. The state has made an effort to remedy this shortage by issuing a record-breaking number of emergency teaching certificates. Yet, even as the number of issued certificates increases, Oklahoma consistently ranks among the top 15 states with the highest teacher shortages, leaving the state to explore new avenues to inspire future educators.
The shortage of teachers became a concern for Oklahoma public schools between 2011 and 2015, with emergency certifications surging from just 32 approved for the 2011-2012 school year to 1,063 for the 2015-2016 school year. This uptick coincided with Oklahoma’s per-pupil funding decreasing by nearly 28%. Today, Oklahoma ranks 49th in education funding and 49th in spending per student.
Less funding leads to fewer resources, adding strain to the public school system and the educators who support it. In addition to the lack of resources, Oklahoma’s teacher salaries have been a topic of concern. Although the state has raised teacher pay within the past few years, starting teacher pay remains 45th in the nation, and the raises have not kept up with inflation for teachers of all experience levels.
Because of these factors, many Oklahoma teachers have left their positions to work in bordering states that offer higher salaries or have left the profession altogether. Young people’s interest in becoming educators is also at an all-time low, meaning fewer people are entering the profession as more seasoned professionals continue to exit it.
To address these concerns, the state has begun focusing on encouraging high school students to pursue careers in education. Through a mixture of financial help and early-exposure programs, the state is making it easier than ever for students to become educators.
There are many scholarships aimed at helping students in their career path, such as the Inspired to Teach Scholarship, which offers up to $25,500 in benefits, or Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Teacher Pipeline Program, which allows them to attend partnered Oklahoma colleges debt-free if they return to teach in the district for three years. There are also many hands-on programs, such as Teach Oklahoma, that allow juniors and seniors to practice various areas of teaching.
While Oklahoma continues to seek new ways to entice people to join the education career path, the teacher shortage continues to impact students across the state.
Contact Paisley Edgin at [email protected]
