Tackling Teacher Shortages: Investing in California’s Teacher Workforce

California, like many states, faces persistent teacher shortages. School districts struggle to fill vacancies with fully credentialed teachers, often relying on underprepared or substitute teachers, increasing class sizes, or cutting courses. To address these challenges, California has invested more than $1 billion to strengthen the teacher workforce, with a focus on increasing teacher supply in shortage areas, improving affordability and access to teacher preparation, and incentivizing skilled teachers to work in high-need schools. In the early years of administering these grants, efforts have centered on building processes and raising awareness of these programs, which are showing promising results. Data show that these programs are gaining traction; unfortunately, they rely on one-time funding that is nearing expiration, prompting critical questions: Are these investments effectively addressing much-needed teacher workforce development, and do they remain essential in today’s context?

This event will bring together education leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to consider these questions and will provide an opportunity to hear about LPI’s new report, .

Speakers:

• California Assemblymember David Alvarez
• Desiree Carver-Thomas, Senior Researcher, Learning Policy Institute
• Cheryl Cotton, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education
• Linda Darling-Hammond, President and CEO, Learning Policy Institute; President, California State Board of Education
• Annamarie Francois, Associate Dean of Public Engagement, UC Los Angeles
• Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director, California Student Aid Commission
• Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, Chair, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
• Tara Kini, Chief of Policy and Programs, Learning Policy Institute
• Leslie Littman, Vice President, California Teachers Association
• Kai Mathews, Executive Director, Urban Ed Academy
• Efrain Mercado, Director of California Policy, Learning Policy Institute
• California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi
• Mary Vixie Sandy, Executive Director, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
• Natalie Wheatfall-Lum, Director of TK-12 Policy, EdTrust-West
• Melissa Eiler White, Senior Advisor, Research and Policy, WestEd

Additional Information

• Please RSVP by January 24, 2025. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and will close on January 24 or when full.
• This event will be recorded and made available to the public.
• Because this event is taking place during the winter months, when COVID-19 rates may be higher, guests are strongly encouraged to test prior to arrival. Air cleaners and masks will be available on site to support attendees’ health and safety.

We hope you can join us for this important research and policy discussion. If you have questions about this event, please contact [email protected].

Host or Publisher Learning Policy Institute