Over the past few years, California policymakers have put considerable resources into programs to entice people to become teachers. These programs range from creating regional recruitment centers to providing tuition assistance to prospective teachers to paying the student loans of teachers who agree to work in particular schools. In addition, the state has provided money that local school districts can use to recruit teachers.

In 1998–99, the state was spending a little more than $14 million on teacher recruitment programs. Two years later, when there was more understanding of the shortage, this total was increased to nearly $160 million. The current budget shortfall, however, has caused the state to reduce spending on teacher recruitment by 20 percent, dropping to about $130 million for the current school year. Some programs designed to attract and retain qualified teachers were reduced significantly. And while this reduction was occurring, the state has been shifting its incentive programs for prospective teachers from direct grants and fellowships into loan forgiveness. For example, funding for the Governor’s Teaching Fellowship program, which provided $20,000 grants to students in teacher preparation programs, was eliminated from the budget while funding for the Assumption Program of Loans for Education was nearly doubled.

State Spending for Teacher Recruitment Is Dropping