Teacher shortages in Southern California: Here's what experts say can help fix them

Every year, school districts across the country grapple with teacher shortages. Some states have tried to fix the problem by reducing credentialing requirements or by implementing programs that fast-track new teachers into the classroom.

But experts say these efforts can be counter-productive. Underprepared teachers are often less effective. They also tend to quit at higher rates.

And on top of undermining student outcomes, teacher turnover can be especially harmful for under-resourced schools, which have to bear the cost of hiring new educators.

So what are other options? In California, researchers say there are a variety of ways to strengthen the labor force.

Listen • 39:38

Listen • 39:38

The cost of becoming a teacher in California. Who can afford to do it?

Across the U.S., states are constantly in the midst of teacher shortages. California's teaching prep and residency programs are supposed to be part of the solution. But many hopeful teachers struggle to balance their passion with the risk of debt and high cost of living.

What are teacher shortages?

California has teacher shortages in special education, dual-language instruction, math, science, and transitional kindergarten.

Efforts to address some of these areas — particularly STEM — have been hurt by federal cuts, which affect recruitment into local school districts like Los Angeles Unified.

There’s also a shortage of teachers of color. California has one of the most diverse teacher workforces in the country, but it still doesn't reflect the student population. Recently released data from the California Department of Education indicate that while most of the state’s public school students are Latino, most teachers are white. Most of these educators are also women.

Researchers have found teachers of color help with all students’ social, emotional, and academic development, with particularly strong gains for Black students taught by Black teachers. Benefits to students include increased academic achievement, graduation rates, and college aspirations.

How can California improve recruitment?

California requires student teachers to complete at least 600 “clinical hours.” Currently, most aspiring educators do so without compensation. As a result, aspiring educators often have to work on top of going to school and fulfilling the 600-hour requirement. The rising cost of living and higher education also has compelled more and more students to take out loans to stay afloat.

“Is 600 hours great for learning? Absolutely,” said Jarod Kawasaki, department chair of teacher education at California State University, Dominguez Hills. “But it assumes that you have the means to be able to do that without working.”

Cathy Yun, deputy director of the Educator Preparation Laboratory, said there are better ways to set student teachers up for success.

In a May 2025 report, Yun and a colleague identified characteristics of high-quality teacher residency programs.

Modeled after those in the medical field, these programs include a full-year of student-teaching experience, in which the aspiring educator is paired with a seasoned mentor. This allows residents to see the “full arc of the school year,” so they can observe their students’ growth and become part of the school community. It also enables residents to receive “frequent, high-quality feedback” as they develop their pedagogical practice.

High-quality teacher residency programs also are characterized by the gradual release of responsibilities. Initially, Yun told LAist, the student teacher simply observes the mentor. Then, bit by bit, the resident will take over the classroom.

Yun and Kawasaki also stressed the importance of providing financial support for residents so they can cover their living expenses and program-related costs.

The state previously provided grants for student teachers, but those funds have been limited.

California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a Democrat from Torrance, recently introduced a bill to pay student teachers the same daily rate as substitute teachers.

What efforts are underway to help retain student teachers?

In paid residency programs, student teachers typically make a multiyear commitment to work at a particular school or region in exchange for financial support.

The San Bernardino City Unified School District, for instance, recently announced a one-year teacher residency program, in partnership with the University of California, Riverside. Candidates will get free tuition, along with a mentor and a $32,000 stipend. That money will be used to help cover the candidates’ living expenses and to provide payments for their mentor teachers. Once the student teachers complete the residency program, they’ll be expected to continue working for the district for four years.

Yun and her colleague said these types of residencies “have shown promise in helping districts solve shortages, preparing effective teachers, [and] recruiting residents from diverse backgrounds.”

To continue making the teaching profession more accessible to candidates from historically excluded groups, her report also has recommendations for policymakers at the state and federal level.

Recommendations for California policymakers:

• Maintain funding for the California Teacher Residency Grant Program “through and beyond” the 2026–27 school year, when funding is due to expire.
• Renew the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, with adjustments for inflation. (This program provides $20,000 in tuition support for individuals enrolled in teacher prep programs.)

Recommendations for federal policymakers:

• Cover teachers’ monthly loan payments. Existing federal loan forgiveness programs “require teachers to shoulder monthly payments for years with salaries that are lower than those of similarly educated professionals,” Yun writes. “These programs could instead be structured such that teachers’ federal loan payments are covered by the federal government as long as they remain in the classroom.”

The number of teacher candidates has fluctuated in recent years. In 2023-24, the last year for which data is available, there were a total of 38,596 people enrolled in California teacher prep programs.

In an email, Anita Fitzhugh, a spokesperson for California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing, noted that the state recently allotted $70 million to extend the Teacher Residency Program, $64 million to extend the Golden State Teacher Grant program and $30 million to extend the National Board Certification program.

The 2025-26 education budget trailer bill, she added, also established a new Student Teacher Stipend Program to support prospective educators as they complete their clinical hours. The bill appropriates $300 million and, starting July 2026, it will make $100 million dollars available annually to participating school districts, county offices of education and charter schools. These institutions will provide $10,000 stipends to each student teacher they employ.

Listen • 39:38

Listen • 39:38

The cost of becoming a teacher in California. Who can afford to do it?

Across the U.S., states are constantly in the midst of teacher shortages. California's teaching prep and residency programs are supposed to be part of the solution. But many hopeful teachers struggle to balance their passion with the risk of debt and high cost of living.