2006 Delaware Teacher Supply Survey Analysis

Abstract

The 19 public school districts throughout the state of Delaware hired a total of 1,133 teachers for the 2005–2006 school year. The personnel directors from each district were asked to complete an online survey requesting information on the number of new hires, when personnel directors were notified of vacancies, when districts extended contracts, which teaching and non-teaching positions were difficult to fill, and recruitment tools used. Teacher hiring and retention are gaining increased visibility as issues, and districts in Delaware are doing more than ever to confront the problem. However, Delaware still needs to address late hires, hiring teachers in critical-needs areas, the effects of contracts on hiring, and the hiring of speech pathologists. This year’s survey, the fifth in an annual series of surveys, was administered through the Department of Education’s DEEDS website.