The National Center for Education Statistics states there is a teacher shortage across the country, and 45% of schools had at least one special educator missing in the winter of 2022. A survey from the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement (CERRA) during the period of September through October of 2022 found there were 8,321 teacher departures and 1,474 vacant teacher positions, with 2,039.50 departures being teachers with 2-5 years of teaching experience.
According to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), a 2022 nationwide survey found that 65% of public schools reported being understaffed in the special education department. As this shortage grows to a crisis level, Districts are getting creative with alternative methods of providing instruction for students with exceptionalities.
In order to teach Special Education, you have to be a highly certified teacher, something that is very hard to come by. At PC, Dr. Tammy Graham has returned to take on the role of a professor in the Special Education program and create these highly sought-after teachers. Along with the PC programs, there is a 2+2 agreement with Piedmont Technical College and Laurens Districts 55 and 56, which is a way for students to attain a bachelor’s degree by attending the first two years at a Technical College for an Associate of Science (AS) degree and then transferring to select bachelor’s degree programs at partnered four-year universities.
