The role of early career supports, continuous professional development, and learning communities in the teacher shortage

The teacher shortage is real, large and growing, with high-poverty schools suffering most from the shortage of credentialed teachers. Continuous learning helps teachers keep up with advances in effective teaching and learning, and can provide the support necessary to maintain a stable workforce of highly credentialed teachers. However, there is limited access to high-quality professional development, time is scarce, and key resources are especially lacking in high-poverty schools. Policymakers must adequately fund schools to address the teacher shortage and eliminate barriers to teaching and learning, particularly in schools serving more vulnerable student populations.