Over Half of US Teachers Are , Considering Leaving Their Jobs, Poll Says.<br />According to the National Education Association poll, which took place in January, .<br />55% of educators in America intend to quit teaching sooner than they had initially planned.<br />NPR reports that number has increased significantly since August due to the continued demands being placed on teachers amid the seemingly never-ending pandemic.<br />The poll's other findings include:.<br />90% of teachers say burnout is a serious issue.<br />86% have seen more colleagues leave teaching or retire early since the onset of the pandemic.<br />and 80% say unfulfilled job openings place more work obligations on those who remain.<br />According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, <br />there are 567,000 fewer public school teachers in the <br />United States currently as opposed to before the pandemic.<br />The National Education Association reports <br />43% of positions remain unfilled.<br />The teachers union says American Rescue Plan money should be used as incentives to keep and hire staff.<br />We were asked to assist [U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona] to really push on this part of the use of those funds because some school districts were a little leery about using them to hire staff, Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, via NPR
