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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Reducing state teacher shortage aim of new bill

Associated Press

OLYMPIA – The Washington House has passed a bill that seeks to increase the number of public school teachers in the state, in response to a perceived shortage.

House Bill 2573, passed on a vote of 92-6 on Wednesday, would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to create a statewide plan to bring in more teachers.

OSPI reports that a survey in 2015 survey that 93 percent of 733 principals say they either struggle to find qualified teaching candidates or are in “crisis mode” searching for them. Forty-five percent say they couldn’t fill openings with qualified teachers. They survey also found that finding substitute teachers was also difficult.

About 35 percent of about 2,100 principals responded to the survey.