U.S. Department of Education
Every student should have access to outstanding, well-prepared, well-supported educators who reflect the diversity of the students they serve. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, from February to May 2020, the economy lost an estimated 730,000 local public education jobs—9 percent of all those jobs. There is good news: as of March 2023, public education recovered 600,000 of those jobs (82 percent). However, there are still 130,000 fewer people working in local public education than before the pandemic, and schools were already experiencing shortages before the pandemic began, with disproportionate impacts on students of color, students with disabilities, and English learners.
Our schools still have a long way to go before they are fully staffed with educators who can meet the needs and reflect the diversity of our nation’s students.
Districts are estimated to spend $30 billion of their American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds on staffing, investing in teacher recruitment, development, hiring, and retention efforts. With the support of ARP funds:
Resources
Grants
When students feel connected to school, their mental health and academic performance improve; however, the consequences of the pandemic—social isolation, illness, and family hardship among them—have led to decreased feelings of connectedness for students. For example, approximately 1 in 3 high school students have experienced poor mental health amid the pandemic, and rates of poor mental health have been higher for historically marginalized groups of students. For students to thrive in school, they need a strong foundation of overall wellness.
Our mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.