Commission lists 10 ways to stop Indiana teacher shortage

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Members of a commission trying to find a solution to Indiana’s teacher shortage have prioritized ten strategies for improving teacher recruitment and retention.

The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Recruitment and Retention of Excellent Educators met Monday. The Evansville Courier and Press reports that the 49-member commission spent time in smaller groups to discuss topics like compensation models and interruptions in instructional time.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz called it “a real working day.”

The Indiana Department of Education says the state had 21 percent fewer initial teacher license issued during the 2014-2015 school year compared with the previous year.

The commission is tasked with creating ideas to take to lawmakers next year in an effort to increase the number of Indiana educators.

The commission next meets Oct. 15.