To offset a shortage of mathematics teachers, the East Oak Cliff schools in Dallas (Texas) use an electronic chalkboard to convert chalk strokes made by a master teacher into electronic signals that can be transmitted to another classroom, reconverted, and displayed as written information on a television monitor. (Author/MLF)

Qualified teachers in Houston (Texas) can apply for financial incentives if they teach in curriculum areas or campus locations where critical shortages exist. Teachers are also eligible for stipends if they meet established criteria for teacher attendance, professional growth, and outstanding educational progress. (Author/MLF)

Teachers endorse merit pay, but many are opposed to bonus pay to individuals teaching in subject areas where teacher shortages exist. Bonus plans are also opposed by teacher unions. A national survey found that the differences between teachers' attitudes relate to the number of years teaching, union membership, and tenure status. (MD)

Discusses research on the use of paraprofessionals, aides, and assistants in schools. Describes several school-district career-ladder and instructional programs for paraprofessionals. Finds paraprofessionals contribute to student achievement. (PKP)

The United States is facing a severe teacher shortage. One alternative for finding well trained teacher candidates is to look to Western European countries where a growing number of teachers are unemployed. Outlines procedures for hiring teachers from West Germany. (MD)

The shortage of qualified science and mathematics teachers is expected to increase. Among the remedies are incentive pay (despite unions' reactions against it), increasing funds for teacher training, and retraining and recertification programs that offer financial incentives. (MLF)

Many former members of the military have chosen second careers in teaching aided by a Department of Defense program called Troops to Teachers. Teachers are eligible to receive financial support for schooling if they agree to stay with the program for five years. School districts benefit from employees with highly developed technical skills and a…

Although some suburban districts have surplus teacher applicants, many growing, rural, innercity, or low-paying districts are scrambling to find teachers. Nevada and Colorado face shortages, whereas Maine and Connecticut are oversupplied. There are too many elementary teachers and not enough math, science, and special-education teachers. High-tech…

Discusses teacher-quality issues related to current and projected teacher shortages, including out-of-field teaching, teacher certification, working conditions, and salaries. Asserts that nation is currently experiencing a crisis in teacher quality, with a disproportional impact on disadvantaged urban students. (PKP)

Headlines about teacher shortages are bringing the law of supply and demand back to school. As a consequence, teacher training enrollments have started to climb again. (TE)

As suburban and rural school districts' student populations diversify, they are beginning to compete with urban districts in recruiting the elusive minority teacher. In 1993-94, minority teachers comprised only 9% of the U.S. teaching force. High-immigration states need bilingual teachers. This sidebar contains an annotated directory of nine…

Lawrence Hardy's lead article details a year of diminished expectations, highlighting teacher shortages, failing teacher competency scores, 12th graders' dismal TIMSS scores, affirmative-action setbacks, and Milwaukee voucher triumphs. Kevin Bushweller probes school violence issues. Others discuss leadership trends, school-success indicators, and…

To alleviate the teacher shortage on modest budgets, school districts can help young teachers get out of debt. Required monthly payments on student loans effectively make teachers' salaries even smaller. Payments of $500 to $1,000 made yearly to teachers' student-loan accounts would phase out after loans are paid in full. (MLH)

A California school district, expecting 600 new students and only filling less than half of their 70 open teaching positions from usual hiring sources, took their teacher recruitment program on the road and around the country. Top flight teachers were hired at precisely the grade levels and subject areas needed. (MLF)

The United States identifies a far larger percentage of students for special-education services than do other developed countries, including Israel, Canada, Germany, France, Britain, Japan, and Korea. Looming behind the U.S. figures are the possibility of lawsuits, mounting paperwork, student discipline problems, lower expectations for student…