This post originally appeared at https://reforminggovernment.org/education-watch-why-we-have-a-teacher-shortage/

From Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction:

Only 54% of potential elementary school teachers pass the final reading test and become a teacher, an all-time low. Only 34% of non-White graduates do.

Only 77% of college students who start a teaching program in Wisconsin become teachers, 4th out of 6 in the Midwest.

Surprisingly, roughly the same number of Wisconsinites are in teacher programs as 2010, 1st out of 6 in the Midwest. Read more here.

Additional context from IRG Senior Research Director Quinton Klabon:

→ Our teacher shortage is driven largely by teachers being prepared poorly by our universities, not fewer wanting to enter the progression. This is likely a surprise to all sides of the debate.

→ Of our 5 biggest programs, UW-La Crosse has a 60% reading test passage rate, UW-Whitewater has 38%, UW-Eau Claire has 70%, UW-Oshkosh has 41%, and UW-Milwaukee has 47%.

→ We must treat teachers as a critical, respected profession! This is the opposite.