Targeted Teacher Recruitment

This policy snapshot, published by the Education Commission of the States, provides a state-by-state comparison of recent legislation aimed to support targeted recruitment and retention of teachers in specific subjects (e.g., science, math, special education) and types of schools (e.g., urban, rural, high-poverty). The report highlights exemplar states’ efforts to target recruitment for educators and adequately prepare them to teach certain subjects or populations, as opposed to general recruitment efforts that often fall short for high-need subjects or specializations. Examples include legislation to research and collect data on this issue, innovatively recruit educators through career pathways and grow-your-own programs, alter teacher preparation and licensure requirements, and financially incentivize current and retired teachers through scholarships, loan forgiveness, and other affordable housing strategies.