Raising Pay in Public K-12 Schools is Critical to Solving Staffing Shortages

Public school staffing shortages have been a persistent problem across the United States, and the recent pandemic has only intensified the issue. Low pay for K-12 teachers and support staff is a long standing factor in public school staffing shortages. This report suggests ways in which policymakers can use COVID relief funds to reduce the gap between current pay and effective demand pay and alleviate staffing shortages.