We Did it: The 'Great Resignation' leaves schools reeling

Feb 07, 2022

With help from Jessica Calefati

WHO'S LEFT IN SCHOOLS? — The pandemic is edging teachers out of the job.

— About 55 percent of teachers say because of the pandemic they're considering leaving their jobs sooner than they'd planned, according to a poll from the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union. The poll, which was issued in January, signals that teacher shortages may become more dire, and the Omicron variant has made it more difficult to keep schools staffed.

— School superintendents are stepping in as substitute teachers, as well as the governor of New Mexico and the National Guard. Parents are being called in, too, as schools look for enough adults to keep school buildings open and safe.

— "We're trying lots of short-term solutions," said Becky Pringle, president of NEA. "But we have to be very careful. It's so important that we don't attack this as if when the pandemic is over then the problems are over. No, this is a long-term problem."

— The pandemic is affecting the number of teachers and other staff who are retiring early or leaving in the middle of the year, Pringle said. "What's particularly disturbing is we're seeing our younger teachers leaving, our early educators leaving and our mid-educators leaving," she said, adding that the lack of mentors for future teachers is leaving schools in a bind.

— About 143,000 workers in the education sector quit their jobs in December, the Labor Department reported. And the number of job openings in the education sector jumped by 58,000.

— Despite the Omicron surge, 94 percent of all schools reported that classrooms have been open for in-person learning, according to the NEA poll. Schools that did not have in-person learning attributed closed campuses to Covid exposure-related teacher and substitute shortages (62 percent), large student absences (42 percent) and support staff shortages (28 percent). Those surveyed also reported as much as a quarter of their school's staff or students were out because of the virus.

— Though it's more than just pandemic burnout, training and working conditions contributing to teacher resignations, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. "Why would someone walk into a profession where every single day one political party is at war with them about whether they're teaching honest history, about whether or not you should keep them safe, about whether or not they care about children?" she said.

— "I understand that we have elections, but at the end of the day, we need politics out of schools," Weingarten added.

IT'S MONDAY, FEB. 7. WELCOME TO WEEKLY EDUCATION. Have we met yet? Let's grab coffee. Ping me at bquilantan@politico.com to chat. Send tips to my colleagues Jessica Calefati at jcalefati@politico.com, Juan Perez Jr. at jperez@politico.com and Michael Stratford at mstratford@politico.com. And follow us on Twitter: @Morning_Edu and @POLITICOPro.

HAPPENING THURSDAY – A LONG GAME CONVERSATION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS : Join POLITICO for back-to-back conversations on climate and sustainability action, starting with a panel led by Global Insider author Ryan Heath focused on insights gleaned from our POLITICO/Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll of citizens from 13 countries on five continents about how their governments should respond to climate change. Following the panel, join a discussion with POLITICO White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, about the Biden administration's climate and sustainability agenda. REGISTER HERE.

Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories.

By the Numbers

TEACHERS BATTLE HIGH BURNOUT — About 90 percent of NEA members reported burn out being "a serious problem" and 91 percent say "pandemic-related stress is a serious problem," according to the union's poll. Those surveyed highly supported raising salaries, providing mental health support for students, hiring more teachers and staff, and less paperwork as solutions.

— Meanwhile, some educators are taking on extra work because of staff shortages. Nearly three-fourths of educators reported having to fill in for colleagues or take on other duties, leaving them with "more work obligations."

— NEA warned of a teacher "exodus" as more than half of its members said they plan to leave their jobs much earlier than expected . Black and Latino educators, who are traditionally underrepresented in the profession, are reporting that they're looking to leave teaching at a higher rate than the average.

—"There's no question that our teachers feel demoralized, in many places blamed, which only takes from their sense of well being," Pringle said. "They are doing phenomenal jobs. To be continuously doing that work to stand in the gaps for every student, and to see what is playing out on the news like teachers being blamed for the pandemic, it's quite overwhelming and they feel that."

— Pringle said in addition to the remedies that received high support in the poll, another immediate solution is for some states to remove their policies that penalize retired teachers for subbing too often. "Why would you not draw on the people who already have knowledge, skills and abilities to teach?" she said.

Higher Education

JILL BIDEN AND CARDONA TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY COLLEGES — First Lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona are scheduled to give remarks today at the Association of Community College Trustees and the American Association of Community Colleges' 2022 Community College National Legislative Summit . Biden will speak at 9:15 a.m. and Cardona will speak at 11:30 a.m.

NINTH CIRCUIT: DEVOS CANNOT BE ORDERED TO TESTIFY — A panel of judges on Friday ruled that former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos could not be forced to testify in a class action lawsuit claiming her policies permanently damaged the finances of student borrowers defrauded by for-profit colleges. The lawsuit is being brought on behalf of roughly 160,000 borrowers who applied to the Education Department for loan forgiveness.

— "The district court erred in allowing DeVos's deposition because the information sought from DeVos, while perhaps relevant, was not essential to the claims alleged by plaintiffs," Judge Milan Smith, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in a 28-page opinion . "The panel held that there was no indication that DeVos held information that was essential to plaintiffs' case or that it was otherwise unobtainable."

— The ruling overturns an order from a federal judge last May who said DeVos must testify because "exceptional circumstances" justified the rare deposition of a former Cabinet secretary. The Ninth Circuit panel's majority concluded that the reasoning that cautions against making high-ranking executive branch officials answer questions in court still applies.

HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS TO CONGRESS: ENACT FY 2022 APPROPRIATIONS — The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, in a letter sent to Congressional leadership Friday, pressed lawmakers to pass the 2022 spending bills after months of delay. "Congress needs to make the necessary investments to restore the purchasing power of the Pell and allow for the full coverage of college costs, including books and rent," HACU wrote.

— Fiscal year 2022 started in October, though Congress has been passing stopgap measures for months at a time to keep the government funded at fiscal year 2021 levels and prevent a government shutdown. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) last week signaled that a third continuing resolution could be imminent as funding is set to expire this month.

— The House passed a minibus spending package, including fiscal 2022 funding for the Education Department, last July. Though it has yet to be taken up in the Senate, the House's legislation includes a significant boost for the Education Department. It would receive $102.8 billion, an increase of 41 percent over current funding.

— The House bill also pumps up the Pell grant amount by $400 and allows DACA students and students with temporary protected status to be eligible for the aid. President Joe Biden has said the Pell boost is a down payment on his campaign promise to double the award that is meant to help the nation's poorest students attend college.

K-12

SUPPORT FOR LESSONS ON RACISM LIMITED, POLL SHOWS — Just over half of American adults don't think schools have a responsibility to teach students about the ongoing impact of slavery and racism, and 1 in 10 say not even lessons on the history of those topics should be required, according to a poll released today by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy in partnership with APM Research Lab.

— The survey of 1,200 people 18 and up found a stark divide among respondents based on political party, with two-thirds of Republicans and nearly half of independents saying only the history of slavery should be taught whereas only 1 in 5 Democrats reported feeling that way. Democrats most favored teaching about the ongoing effects of slavery and racism.

— The Institute also asked how evolution should be taught in schools. Nearly half of those surveyed said the biblical perspective on creation should be taught along with scientific evidence. Having a bachelor's degree significantly increased the likelihood that a respondent said the scientific perspective should be taught exclusively.

— Regarding sex education, the survey found women were almost 10 percent more likely to say teachers should have a great deal of influence over the courses than men were. And three-quarters of Americans said sex education should include instruction about contraceptives.

In the States

JUDGE HITS PAUSE ON VIRGINIA MASK ORDER — Arlington Circuit Court Judge Louise DiMatteo temporarily paused Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that allows parents to opt out of classroom mask mandates. The lawsuit was filed by seven school boards to challenge the order the Republican governor signed right after his inauguration in January.

— This means the school boards' mask policies that require students to wear them in class can continue while the legal proceedings continue. "Keeping rules in place that have been established over the school year helps children, families and staff understand how they may be impacted during the pandemic," DiMatteo wrote. "Without a restraining order, children and staff would have to reassess certain health conditions they believe are impacted by a mask policy (any mask policy), having relied upon a universal mask mandate implemented by the School Boards."

— Attorney General Jason Miyares's office has said he will appeal the ruling, the Associated Press reported.

TRANSGENDER ATHLETES BAN IN SOUTH DAKOTA — Republican Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill into law that bans transgender women and girls from participating on sports teams that match their gender identity. Noem, who is considered a potential 2024 presidential contender, previously vetoed similar legislation last year and told Fox News' Tucker Carlson that she feared the NCAA would "bully" South Dakota if a ban was enacted.

— "This bill has been an important priority for a lot of the people behind me," Noem said during a signing ceremony. "I appreciate all of their hard work in making sure that girls will always have the opportunity to play in girls sports in South Dakota and have an opportunity for a level playing field, for fairness, that gives them the chance to experience success."

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.