LA teacher shortage hits low-income schools

There are less than 2 months left in this school year and many of Los Angeles Unified's highest-needs campuses remain significantly understaffed. This has affected the academic recovery and Supt. Alberto M. Carvalho has redeployed personnel who hold teaching credentials back into the classroom. 

California's teacher shortage has been deepening both in the state and across the nation. However, this shortage has hit hardest at schools in parts of South L.A. and several other low-income neighborhoods. LA Unified had announced a hiring spree, which was unheard of since the 1990s. This was after a record $20-billion pandemic-aid-enhanced budget this year. 

The additional 6,000 hires announced last year included psychologists and psychiatric social workers, teachers, school nurses and custodians. According to a report by Partnership for Los Angeles Schoolsven by November, nearly half of those positions were left unfilled. Although there has been some progress with hiring, officials have remained concerned about the lack of teachers. Carvalho also added that half of the 420 vacancies that remain are in high-needs schools with vulnerable student populations.

Source: Los Angeles Times