Cash incentives are on the way for educators who have experience in specialized fields. San Francisco, California is willing to pay thousands of dollars to STEM and special education teachers for the 2016-17 school year.
Shortage In STEM And Special Ed Teachers
San Francisco's school district will give a $4,000 signing bonus for 70 special education teachers, which are needed in the next five weeks, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Signing bonuses are also provided for special education teachers' aides and veteran teachers, who needs to return to school to obtain a special education credential.
The Pittsburg Unified School District in Contra Costa County, California is willing to provide a $5,000 signing bonus for teachers who are certified in special education, math, science, and Spanish bilingual or dual-immersion. The San Francisco Bay Area and beyond has the most shortage when it comes to STEM and special education teachers. The schools that need teachers in specialized fields are often situated in poor districts.
Other Schools Offering Signing Bonuses
San Francisco isn't alone when it comes to offering signing bonuses to teachers. Mobile County Public Schools in Alabama is also offering a $10,000 signing bonus for math and science teachers. They will have to teach in designated schools for three years starting from the 2016-17 school year, MCPSS reported.
The Alabama schools in need of math and science teachers are Calloway-Smith, Chastang, Denton Magnet School of Math and Science, Eanes, Mobile County Training, Scarborough, Pillans and Washington Middle Schools; as well as Blount, Rain, Vigor and Williamson High Schools. Interested applicants should possess a current Valid Alabama Teaching Certificate and a highly qualified teaching certification in math and science.
Roanoke City schools in Virginia, meanwhile, are recruiting North Carolina teachers with signing bonuses between $2,000 and $10,000, WCTI12 reported. Specifically, they are looking for teachers that have specializations in math, English, special education, health/physical education, and Spanish/French.
The shortage of teachers stemmed from the United States' 2008 recession, a time when plenty of educators were laid off. Teachers have departed big urban districts and transferred to less impoverished districts that offer higher wages, the San Francisco Chronicle noted.
In 2008, California has nearly 45,000 people enrolled in teacher preparation programs, but that number dropped to less than 20,000 by 2013. Now, the state government is scrambling to attract more teachers and teaching assistants by giving raises, signing bonuses, new textbooks, and technology equipment, Fresno Bee listed.
