The search for teachers:
Issues and strategies (cont'd)

What happens when the Boomers leave?
Currently, 38 percent of South Dakota’s teachers and administrators are over the age of 50. Sixty-two percent are under the age of 50. The important question is this: When the Baby Boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – begin to leave the profession, will there be enough new people entering the field to replace them?

A look at the number of teacher education majors graduating from the state’s public universities tells a piece of the story. In fiscal year 2000, 617 students graduated with teacher education majors. By fiscal year 2006, the number was 450. That’s a 27 percent drop.

“It’s tough to predict what will happen, but we certainly need to pay attention to this trend,” Melmer said. “Fewer people coming into the field now will mean challenges down the road. Right now, at the state level, we’re focused on a handful of strategies to address some of these issues.”

According to Melmer, one of these options – the Teacher Compensation Assistance Program – specifically addresses teacher salaries. Other options are aimed at finding innovative ways to get good people in the classroom.

More [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ]