At a conference this summer in Sacramento, longtime school administrators sat with mouths agape as they were told of the critical teacher shortage. Only a couple of the 30 school officials in the room raised their hands. Teachers also complain that the credentialing process itself is a barrier. It was only after I drove up to the office in Sacramento that I got my questions answered. The office issues more than 100 different credentials in various subjects.
Applicants complain the costs mount up.
Stanford University professor Linda Darling-Hammond, a member of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, said salaries should be raised and working conditions improved. Bee staff writer Laura Mecoy contributed to this report. Let us hear from you.