The number of secondary school teachers is projected to increase at a greater rate than the number of elementary school teachers. Assuming a stable pupil/teacher ratio, between 1998 and 2008, a decrease of 1 percent is projected at the elementary level, while an increase of 9 percent is projected at the secondary level, a rise from 1.3 million to 1.4 million teachers.

School enrollment increases have implications for teacher supply and demand over the next ten years. For example, California will need to hire 260,000 to 300,000 teachers in the next decade. (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing)

Filling teaching positions with qualified teachers, particularly in specific subjects, is an important issue for many schools. More than 13 percent of public and private school teachers lack full certification in their main assignment field. In addition, the percentage of public school teachers who neither majored nor minored in their main assignment field include: 17 percent in social studies, 40 percent in science, 34 percent in math, 25 percent in English, and 13 percent in foreign language.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics, 1997 and Projections of Education Statistics to 2008; America's Teachers: Profile of a Profession, 1993-94; and special tabulations, except as noted.

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[ Table 10. -- High school graduates of public and private schools, by region and state: 1987-88, 1997-98, 2002-03, and 2007-08 ] [ Figure 10. -- Estimated age distribution of full-time-equivalent public school teachers: 1998-99 ]