Unfilled teaching jobs are at an alltime high in South Carolina...and a new study says time, or the lack of it, is one of the main reasons. The state-funded Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement research group reports that as of the end of February South Carolina counted 1,121 vacant teaching positions.
That tops the previous record of 1,033 set last fall, the most since the group started tracking vacancies twenty years ago. There were only 680 openings just two years ago. State lawmakers have increased the salaries -- another raise is included in the upcoming budget. However, the Palmetto State Teachers Association says increased class sizes, dealing with federal/state mandates and giving up breaks to cover classrooms where teachers are not available are all factors prompting more educators to walk away.