Voices of the Shortage: 2022 Mississippi Teacher Survey
In our previous report, Nothing in the Pipes: Educator Crisis in Mississippi, we explained how the rising cost of college attendance and the declining value of teaching salaries may be squeezing aspiring new teachers out of the pipeline.
To build on that analysis, we surveyed 6,496 Mississippi teachers to establish the state’s most comprehensive resource for understanding the critical teacher shortage in Mississippi from teachers’ perspectives.
Voices of the Shortage: 2022 Mississippi Teacher Survey
Almost 2 in 3 Mississippi school districts are now classified as critical shortage areas. We asked 6,496 Mississippi public school teachers why.
Our Five High-Level Findings
Over half of teachers surveyed report being likely to leave their Mississippi classroom within the next year.
Compensation is by far the most important factor in career plans for surveyed teachers—especially those likely to leave.
Low pay is forcing many teachers to forgo basic necessities, take second jobs, and/or rely on government assistance.
Teachers who are struggling financially are much more likely to leave the classroom within the next year.
Teachers strongly prefer well-funded compensation strategies, rather than any particular type of strategy.
Authors
Toren Ballard, Director of K-12 Policy, 2019-2025
Rachel Canter, Executive Director, 2008 – 2025
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