Even Schools Flush With Cash Can’t Keep Up With Teacher Shortage

Florida school district still needs to fill 620 teaching jobs
Staffing issues risk slowing recovery, eroding school credit

A teacher assists a student at Logan Jr. High School in Princeton, Illinois.
Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Nic Querolo and Hadriana Lowenkron

August 25, 2022 at 2:15 PM UTC

On Aug. 10, Hillsborough County Public Schools started the school year short 620 teachers -- a more than threefold increase from last year when there were just 181 open positions.

Officials in the western Florida school district spent $26 million to hike teacher pay, and used federal stimulus funds for $2,000 bonuses for special education teachers. But it wasn’t enough to fill the void in the classrooms.