According to the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), 45 states reported special education teacher shortages in 2024-25 based on data reported to the Education Department. An LPI analysis shows that 48 states and the District of Columbia had 365,967 teachers who were not fully certified for their positions.
Teacher preparation enrollment data is also discouraging for general and special education. Slightly more than half of states — 27 — saw teacher preparation program enrollment declines of 5% or more between 2016-17 and 2020-21, according to LPI.
Click here to find out what some are doing to obtain certified staff.