Superintendent Arntzen Releases Annual Critical Quality Educator Shortages Report

• Brian O'Leary
• January 13 2023

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen released the annual Critical Quality Educator Shortage Report. This report identifies schools, licensure, and endorsement areas that are impacted by critical quality educator shortages defined by § 20-4-502, MCA. The impacted shortage areas help determine the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program as defined in § 20-4-501 et seq., MCA.

“Filling Montana classrooms, wherever the location, with quality educators remains one of my top priorities,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “I have implemented many flexibilities through TeachMT, teacher licensing rules, and increasing professional development to recognize this great need in every school building across our state. Together we must focus on solutions that put our Montana students first!”

In Montana, during the 2022-2023 school year there are 661 out 825 schools that are impacted by a critical quality educator shortage. Between 2019 and 2023 the number of affected licensure and endorsement areas were:

• 2019-2020: 2,498
• 2020-2021: 2,447
• 2021-2022: 2,919
• 2022-2023: 2,700

By grade level, the 2,700 affected areas in 2022-2023 are:

• Elementary – 812
• Middle – 599
• High School – 872
• K-12 Schools – 417

The top three critical shortage areas in 2022-2023 are:

• Elementary – 492
• Special Education – 259
• Mathematics – 188

Educators who work in a critical shortage area can receive up to $3,000 per year for four years in educational loan repayment assistance. Over the past three fiscal years (FY) OPI has approved and paid:

• FY2020: 76 approvals for $268,907
• FY2021: 73 approvals for $266,735
• FY2022: 113 approvals for $453,596

There is currently a bill before the legislature, SB 70, that would extend the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program to all teachers that work in an impacted school regardless of the area that is affected.

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