With the 2024-2025 school year under way, K-12 public schools continue to face significant staffing challenges despite modest improvements in teacher vacancies, according to data released Wednesday, September 11, by the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA), one of NCASA’s core affiliates.

Results from a survey NCSSA conducted mid-August through mid-September of all 115 school districts revealed a total of 8,335 total staff vacancies and reflecting a slight decrease compared to last year’s 9,809 vacancies and 11,295 vacancies in 2022.

Jack Hoke, Executive Director of NCSSA, highlighted the value of full district participation in the survey, which continues to produce one of the most cumulative annual reports on school vacancies in North Carolina. “I’m appreciative that all 115 school districts participated to share their vacancy information,” Hoke said. “While the numbers of teacher vacancies show some improvement, it’s clear that staffing shortages overall remain one of the main challenges superintendents and school districts face, especially early each school year.”

The NCSSA survey identified 899 teacher vacancies in Grades K-5, 708 in Grades 6-8, and 748 in Grades 9-12 – totaling 2,355 positions statewide. Additionally, the number of residency license teachers – those who become educators through a non-traditional pathway – has increased to 5,242, further illustrating the shortage of fully certified teachers. And notably, vacancies among exceptional children’s teachers increased from 744 last year to 787 this year.

Hoke said the distribution of teacher vacancies includes the following from the 115 districts: 12 with no vacancies or just 1 vacancy; 46 had between 2 and 10 vacancies; 18 reported between 11 and 20 vacancies; 24 faced between 21 and 50 vacancies; and 15 districts had 51 or more vacancies.Hoke also pointed to an ongoing trend of high vacancies statewide for bus drivers, with 1,315 vacancies reported this year as compared to 1,314 last year.

He emphasized that helping Local Education Agencies address their continuing shortage of teachers, bus drivers and other staff needs to become a priority for state leaders to ensure adequate support for K-12 public school students.

“The fact that many districts are still struggling with vacancies a month into the new school year highlights the need for enhanced support at the state level.” Hoke said, “We will continue advocating for higher pay for teachers and other school staff and an overall increase in state funding to ensure our students have the qualified educators and other service providers they deserve.”