The long-standing teacher shortage in Fairfax County, Virginia, has improved considerably, with the number of vacancies now at an all-time low. According to ABC7 News, after four years of efforts by the county’s office of education to address the shortage, over 90% of current teachers remain in the district, and the vacancy rate has dropped to just 1%.
To address the issue, the county has implemented several measures aimed at boosting teacher morale and retention. These efforts include raising teacher salaries, investing in professional development, offering day contracts for special education teachers, and bringing in international teacher ambassadors. Additionally, the county has introduced a plan that allows individuals with bachelor’s degrees, but without teaching licenses, to receive certification if they are working as substitute teachers or educational assistants in schools.
Fairfax County currently employs between 4,500 to 5,000 substitute teachers across all levels of its school system. Furthermore, the county recently conducted a survey of school staff regarding their return for the next academic year. The results revealed that 96% of respondents indicated they plan to return to work in the coming year, further indicating the positive impact of these measures.