As public education becomes more specialized, fewer graduates seem to be entering the teacher profession, and many experienced teachers are approaching retirement. Word of mouth has helped to fill some of those positions. Library science positions are getting harder to fill perhaps because it is technology-based today, a change for this study. There are two in every high and middle school and one in every elementary school. Though not officially identified, Virginia is also experiencing a shortage of teachers for work and family studies and library media personnel, preK-12.
Graduates are eligible for licensure in Virginia and in thirty-two other states.
In addition to teachers, other personnel needing to be licensed include school counselors, library media, superintendents, principals, assistant principals, instructional central office personnel, school social workers and psychologists, reading specialists, visiting teachers and vocational evaluators. As of February 2000, there were 85,817 teachers employed in the public schools in Virginia. Art Dept Inc.