The countdown is on to the start of the 2023-24 school year, and districts across the state still are scrambling to fill jobs.
In the seven-county metro area, districts reported at least 519 teacher vacancies as of early August, according to a survey by the Minnesota School Boards Association, which says the number is likely much higher because not every school system participated.
Districts in greater Minnesota reported 349 teacher vacancies, with 217 of the positions drawing zero applicants.
"There's really some pretty big holes," Gary Lee, the association's deputy executive director, said Friday of the hiring challenges and potential classroom impacts.
St. Paul Public Schools, the state's second-largest district, hosted an event Friday resulting in the hiring of at least 60 new teacher aides. But nearly 100 such slots remain open.
The shortage of educators has been an ongoing issue nationwide and in Minnesota. But the survey is a first for the School Boards Association, which wanted hard numbers to help spur action by state and local leaders, Lee said.
Minnesota is investing in "grow your own" programs designed to get classroom aides on a track to teacher licensure as well as efforts to recruit and retain teachers of color — initiatives being coordinated in a new educator workforce center announced by the state Department of Education on Friday.
"We are excited to bring a new focus to preparing, supporting and retaining our teachers and school leaders with this new center," Education Commissioner Willie Jett said in a news release. "I am grateful to Governor Walz and the Legislature for their investments in growing our educator workforce."