'Salaries are still low': Teacher shortage leaves schools searching for new ways to recruit

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Colleges and universities are trying to figure out how to entice more people into the teaching careers to fill vacancies, a dilemma that down the road could pose ramifications throughout educational leadership.

The U.S. Department of Education data on the 2017-18 school year shows nearly every state experienced difficulty hiring qualified teachers in such fields as special education, mathematics, science and world languages.

It's a problem expressed recently by Indian Prairie's human resources coordinator Carey Beth Harry, who told the school board District 204 struggled filling teaching positions in special education, bilingual education, mathematics, science, world languages and business.

Part of the reason for the shortage is