The Mercury News – Claudia Meléndez Salinas
“The teacher shortage in the K-12 system has become so critical that a local school district is offering a $10,000 signing bonus for its next math and science teachers. But the shortage, which began to show its effects in 2014 in Monterey County, is likely to get worse statewide if it’s not addressed, according to a report released Tuesday. “Our analysis shows California on a trajectory that, if left unchecked, will likely result in increased teacher shortages and greater inequities among students in different communities,” said Linda Darling-Hammond, lead author of the report “Addressing California’s Emerging Teacher Shortage: An Analysis of Sources and Solutions.” The report traces the shortage to an increased demand for teachers after school districts received new, post-recession money. California has the highest student-teacher ratio in the nation, and the gap became wider during the budget cuts.”(more)