This story was reported and written by our media partner the Virginia Mercury.
Lawmakers will consider legislation allowing Virginia to recruit more teachers through a multi-state agreement in the upcoming legislative session, which some see as an opportunity to continue reducing the state’s teacher shortage that has declined in recent months.
The legislation to enter Virginia into the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact was carried by Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, earlier this year. A similar bill was left in the Senate.
If passed, Glass said the legislation would diversify pathways and processes and remove barriers for experienced teachers who want to bring their skills to Virginia classrooms, ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education. The measure would also support military spouses who frequently move with their partners and face licensing barriers.
“Re-filing the teacher compact bill is a priority because the urgency to address Virginia’s teacher shortage cannot be overstated,” said Glass in an email to the Mercury. “We are navigating the challenges of a highly transient population, particularly in communities like ours that are influenced by military movement and economic shifts; it’s essential to me that we make it easier to attract and retain qualified educators.”
The Virginia Education Association, the largest teachers union in the state, supported the bill in the 2024 session. Carol Bauer, president of the VEA, said as lawmakers mull over the teacher compact legislation, they should also consider ensuring that the bill works toward improving the quality of candidates by keeping “high standards” while reducing “bureaucratic barriers.”
“We still need to hold high standards for training and we need to make sure that our students have teachers that have had the opportunity to get the experience they need to teach,” Bauer said.
Regarding the benefits, Bauer said the interstate compact legislation could help teachers move closer to helping aging family members in another state or obtaining support services for their children.
Compact origin
According to The National Center for Interstate Compacts at The Council of State Governments, the compact, initiated by the U.S. Department of Defense, will allow teachers to use an eligible license held in a compact member state to be granted an equivalent license in another compact member state, lowering barriers to teacher mobility and getting teachers back into the classroom more seamlessly.
A minimum of 10 states was required to move the compact forward. Some of the states that joined the compact include Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Last February, a House General Laws subcommittee amended the legislation, requiring any potential license holder to be responsible for paying for their background check. The bill was left with the House Education Committee when session ended
Va. teacher shortage shows improvement
According to data from the Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Licensure, the teacher vacancy rate was down to 3.4% at the start of the school year after hovering at 4.7% in July.
Studies have found that teachers were leaving public schools due to several factors including dissatisfaction with wages, challenges after the pandemic, and recent political battles over academic content and benchmarking.
Virginia, in response, initiated several actions that included relaxing guidelines to hire retired teachers, and targeting educator recruitment and retention efforts in areas of need. The administration of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkinalso worked on the issue with the Democrat-controlled state legislature this year, whose priorities included raising teacher salaries to the national average.
Glass said the 3.4% vacancy rate appears to be a small number, but it represents “thousands” of unfilled positions that directly impact students and families, necessitating continued efforts towards progress.
“Our approach must be multifaceted: removing barriers for teachers entering the profession, supporting current educators to prevent burnout, and recognizing the unique needs of our communities,” Glass said. “We owe it to our students to provide stability and opportunity, and that starts with ensuring every classroom has a dedicated and qualified teacher.”
