Monday, Jan. 30, 2023
Did Act 10 contribute to a teacher shortage in Wisconsin?
Act 10 — former Gov. Scott Walker's 2011 law cutting benefits and curbing collective bargaining for most public employees in Wisconsin — has contributed to the ongoing shortage of teachers in the state, according to multiple analyses.
The combined effect of Act 10's passage with long-term market trends including declining compensation and the loss of teachers' autonomy raised the percentage of teachers leaving the profession to 10.5% after the 2010-11 school year, compared to 6.4% pre-Act 10. The bulk of teachers who immediately exited were older and left to claim their retirement benefits, which were set to be cut under Act 10.
However, the long-term effect of Act 10 on the teacher shortage remains unclear. In 2015-16, for example, the pace of teacher attrition dipped below pre-Act 10 levels in Wisconsin.
Teacher shortages are occurring nationwide. One study placed the number of teacher vacancies at over 36,000 nationally and 2,565 in Wisconsin.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Center for American Progress Attacks on public-sector unions harm states: How Act 10 has affected education in Wisconsin
- Spectrum News Teacher shortage part of Act 10 fallout
- WIsconsin Policy Forum Stay in school: An update on teacher workforce trends in metro Milwaukee
- TeacherShortages.com Teacher shortages in the United States
About fact briefs
Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.
See all fact briefs
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
Learn MoreLatest Fact Briefs
Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel try to repeal the Affordable Care Act?
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025