PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Upper Darby School District in Delaware County has around 70 positions it is trying to fill, especially bus drivers, lunch aides and substitute teachers. But it cannot find enough applicants.
The number of unfilled vacancies has led some states and school systems to ease credential requirements, in order to expand the pool of applicants. But the challenges are related more to hiring, especially for non-teaching staff positions.
Pennsylvania relies on a school funding formula that incorporates local property tax. The problem with that model is the influx of money will vary between districts, meaning low-income districts will be underfunded.
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Currently, the Upper Darby district holds over 12,000 students, with 60 percent of them in low-income housing.
The district has warned families it may have to cancel school or switch to remote learning on days when it lacks subs. School district officials have also resorted to having students take classes at local community colleges.
Last year, only 6,000 new teachers were hired, which is a decline from merely 20,000 a decade ago.