GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Fewer individuals are graduating from educator preparation programs in Wisconsin, and an even smaller share are going on to become licensed teachers in the state, according to state education officials.
State Superintendent Jill Underly said data from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction shows school districts statewide continue to face staffing shortages, high turnover and a shrinking pipeline of new teachers entering the profession.
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“About 30 percent of new educator preparation graduates are leaving for other states or are not becoming Wisconsin teachers,” Underly said. “And among those who do stay, only 52 percent are still teaching in Wisconsin by their eighth year.”
The trend has raised concerns in Green Bay, where local school leaders and higher education officials met on Monday to discuss possible solutions.
One major focus is teacher pay.
“As this report shows, adjusted for inflation, mid-career teachers in Wisconsin earn 22 percent less than they did 15 years ago,” Underly said. “This is unacceptable. It’s not sustainable, nor is it competitive.”
Local educators say stronger financial investment and community backing will be critical to reversing the trend.
“We need a budget that supports education and the backing of our community,” said Green Bay Public Schools teacher Andrea Huggett. “We need to invest in our public schools because that’s where real change will happen.”
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Underly warned that ongoing staffing challenges could lead to larger class sizes, fewer course offerings and less individualized support for students.
“It’s our students who feel it most,” she said.
