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1999 Supply and Demand Ch. 44 Employment Outlook by Individual Subject Field Highlights of Findings Highlights of Findings
Background The data used for the employment outlooks for various teaching fields in Wisconsin Public Schools and non-teaching areas are based on all the sources presented in previous chapters. These include the data on the supply of educators (Chapter 1), the demand for educators (Chapter 2), and the number of emergency licenses issued in various areas of education (Chapter 3). The data from the survey sent to each public school district and CESA in the state reported in the 1997 edition of this study and presented as maps graphically showing demand for educators in the state was considered in the projections. Since different sources of information are used in the recommendations, it is normal to expect some variations in the data. The researcher, with review by the advisory committee, made the determination of the relevant weight of each source in formulating the final recommendations. The data from the related service survey presented in the 1995 edition of this report contributed to the recommendation of the employment outlook of this chapter. Employability for each subject field and non-teaching area was determined using the following scale: Excellent - Chances of employment are high in almost all geographical areas. Those areas with an extreme shortage of applicants have an excellent rating, slight shortage a good rating, normal supply an average rating, slight oversupply a poor rating, and extreme oversupply a very poor rating. The employability descriptions assigned to the various fields or areas are based on multiple information sources. An important factor in determining the recommendations for each subject field is the evaluation of the fluctuation seen in the data due to state policy decisions or the effects of the economy. This past year (1998-1999) there was a slight continued increase in the employment of teachers. It can be expected that there will be a modest increase in employability, as the aging of the teaching staff will cause a gradual increase in the retirement levels. The data presented in the 1998 report, which presents the number of educators and the attrition by age categories, is considered in the recommendations of this chapter. These statistics are taken into account in making the employment projections in this 1999 report along including the anticipated decline in pupil enrollments. The averages of the employment projections over a three-year period are found in Table 11. This corrects to an extent the yearly fluctuations in new hires and is also considered in the projections of this chapter. The most consistent indicator of the employment outlook for each individual subject field over the past three years is shown in Column 9 of Table 11. Employment Outlook by Subject Field and Non-teaching Areas Employment projections by subject field and non-teaching areas are based on the different areas of investigation previously described. Past reports have been relatively stable in these projections. More teachers are available for a given year than the number prepared by Wisconsin colleges and universities in that year. Approximately half of the newly hired teachers are inexperienced teachers prepared in Wisconsin; the remaining are relocating teachers, those prepared out-of-state, and those returning after an interruption in their careers. Further, a reserve pool of candidates exists for most subject areas. The analysis of the applications from the selected school districts presented in Table 9 also contributed to the recommendations. A district may hire a person to teach at the middle school level in the area of mathematics, science, social studies, or English who is licensed as an elementary teacher (1-8) or licensed in that secondary subject area. Therefore, data on middle school vacancies and the supply of teachers for these programs are more difficult to analyze. The reader is cautioned to note these problems in assessing the needs of educators at the middle school level. Some tables are based on the subject taught, which would include teachers with an elementary or secondary license who are teaching at the middle/junior high school level, while other tables are based on the license held by the teacher. These differences affect the counts in the various tables. Elementary Education A total of 1,575 education students completed licensure programs in the areas of elementary education and early childhood in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 440 full-time equivalent positions in elementary education were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The number of newly hired elementary teachers, including those experienced teachers returning to the field and those from other states, totaled 745 (Table 4). For the past several years, newly prepared teachers with elementary education licenses have had a very poor chance of securing an elementary education position in the Wisconsin Public Schools. The 1997 data from the district administrators responding to the employability survey had an overall rating of 1.3 in elementary education, indicating that the number of applications for each position was the highest of all subject fields. Table 6 shows that the career employment projection for the 1998-1999 school year for Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers with a single elementary license was 23 percent. A number of these teachers find employment in private schools and in out of-state positions. Teachers hired in elementary positions often have licenses in other fields, which may increase their employability if the other fields are in demand. Data in Table 6 show that 12 percent of the teachers prepared in elementary education are hired in areas where they have additional licenses. Licenses in most general education fields have only a slight effect on the employability of elementary teachers while licensees in reading, ESL, and special education tend to improve an individual's chances of finding a position. The attrition rate for elementary education teachers is predictably greater for the younger teachers and for those nearing retirement. The field attrition rate for elementary teachers in 1997-1998 was 6.3 percent (Table 7.1). The increase in projected retirements shown will have only a modest impact on the employability of teachers. The relatively few emergency licenses issued in elementary education (Table 12) are for specialized educational programs and do not indicate a shortage of teachers. OUTLOOK: Very poor The data in this report substantiates previous studies that demonstrate there continues to be a large surplus of teachers for all elementary positions in Wisconsin Public Schools. The outlook will improve in the future if the number of newly prepared teachers is reduced due to enrollment limits in elementary education at the Wisconsin colleges and universities. Increased projected retirement levels will only slightly reduce the surplus of elementary education teachers. Secondary/Special Subject Fields The secondary/special subject fields show a different employment picture than other fields of education. The licensing requirements often restrict the flexibility of teachers to find full-time positions since at the secondary level many smaller school districts offer only one or two sections of most subject fields. Many of the vacancies have unusual combinations of licensure requirements, which eliminated many candidates from being eligible for consideration. Since these individual fields are relatively small, compared say to elementary education, for example, teachers applying for these positions must be more willing to relocate to different geographical areas of the state. Typical of the specialty subject fields (art, music, physical education, family consumer education, technology education) is that few of the teachers have additional licenses (teaching minors), which restricts their flexibility to teach in other fields. These factors in part explain the higher attrition rates found in these areas and the larger proportion of teachers hired on a part-time basis. Agriculture Twenty-five individuals completed licensure in the area of agriculture in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 13 full-time equivalent positions in agriculture were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. Generally, agriculture teachers have not held additional licenses, and many are employed outside of education. The average 1997-survey rating from district administrators was 4.5, which indicates a need for more candidates. Few new teachers had licenses to teach in other areas of education. The data in Table 5 indicate that the number of newly hired teachers in this field has been averaging about 16 per year for the past several years. The attrition rate was 6.4 percent as reported in 1998 edition of this report. Retirements will have minimal impact on the need for teachers. OUTLOOK: Average to Good This is a small teaching field with a low level of teacher preparation. The rise in the number of newly hired teachers in this field suggests that the previous decline in this teaching field has stabilized. Teacher preparation and the needs of the field seem to be in balance. Family/Consumer Education Twenty-four individuals completed licensure in the area of family and consumer education in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 13 full-time equivalent positions in family/consumer education were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The number of teachers hired each year has varied over the past several years, increasing in 1998-1999. (Table 5). The current employment outlook for new, inexperienced teachers in family and consumer education was 42 percent for 1998-1999 (Table 6). Only two new hires had a teaching license in another field. The data in the 1997 survey supplied by district administrators indicated a shortage for both the middle and high school positions. The attrition rate was 6 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. The data also shows a moderate need for additional teachers due to increased retirements in the near future. The current level of teacher preparation in this field has declined to the extent that it is now in balance. OUTLOOK: Good The employment outlook for this field has been varied in the past several years. The "good" rating reflects an improved employment outlook for teachers in this field. Technology Education Fifty-five individuals completed licensure in the area of technology education in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 22 full-time equivalent positions in technology education were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The number of new positions for 1998-1999 was 47 down from a high of 70 in 1994-1995 (Table 5). The 1998-1999 employment rate for newly prepared teachers in Wisconsin Public Schools in this field was 42 percent (Table 6). The 1997 survey returned by school district administrators indicated that there was a severe shortage of candidates. No inexperienced teacher in this field had a license in another field of education. This teaching area has many employment opportunities outside the field of education. The attrition rate was 5.8 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. An adequate supply of technology educators for Wisconsin may be affected if graduates are not willing to relocate, since as of 1997-1998 there has been only one teacher preparation program in the state. The analysis of applications from the selected districts (Table 9) showed that many of the applicants come from other states. This field currently has a shortage of educators that will cause the increase in retirements to aggravate the need for additional teachers. OUTLOOK: Good to Excellent The number being prepared is not currently in balance with the educational needs of the state. Considering the employability of individuals in other fields and the anticipated increase in retirements, there is a need for an increase in the preparation of teachers in this field in light of the projected increase in educators reaching retirement age. Business/Marketing Education Twenty-eight people completed business licensure and 23 completed a marketing credential in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). Wisconsin Public Schools hired 15 new, Wisconsin-prepared inexperienced teachers in full-time equivalent positions in business, and four were hired in marketing during the 1998-1999 school year (Table 6). The employment rating for 1998-1999 shown in Table 6 was 54 percent for business education educators but only 17 percent for marketing teachers. The administrators' rating from the survey showed that business candidates were in short supply across the state. The combined attrition was 6.8 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. This report shows that the impact of retirement will have a moderate effect on the future need for educators in this field. Currently, newly prepared teachers with only a marketing education license have little chance of employment in Wisconsin Public Schools. Those majoring in business education enjoy better employment prospects; this is the basis for the "good" rating of this field. A few business/marketing education teachers have licenses in other fields, with several teaching computer science. Individuals prepared as teachers in business education do have excellent opportunities for employment outside of education. OUTLOOK: Good This recommendation is based on the area of business education, excluding the marketing licensing area. The marketing license alone has very limited employment opportunities in the public schools. With business education graduates having a wide range of employment opportunities outside public education, most graduates would have little difficulty securing employment. The "good" rating is consistent with the rating in the 1998 edition of this report. English/Journalism/Speech/Theater Two hundred forty-five people completed licensure in the areas of English/journalism/speech/theater in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 72 full-time equivalent positions in this field were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The number of newly hired teachers in 1998-1989 was similar to the previous year (Table 5). Twenty-two percent of those newly licensed in this field secured a teaching position in English, and this increased by eleven percent for teachers who are also licensed and employed in other fields (Table 6). The 1997 survey from district administrators at the high school level indicated that there was a surplus of candidates for vacancies. The attrition rate as reported in the 1998 edition of this report was 6.2 percent. With the current surplus of teachers the projected increase in retirements will have little impact in this field. The discrepancy in the number of teachers in Table 4 and in Table 6 occurs because in Table 6 the count is the FTE number of teachers by position. The present employment outlook for teachers in these fields is poor, and the future outlook shows little improvement as long as the number being prepared remains high. It is important to remember that positions at the middle school level include candidates with either elementary education or secondary subject area licenses. OUTLOOK: Poor This rating has remained "very poor" to "poor" for the past several years. Reading Two hundred and nine individuals completed licensure in the area of reading in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). Employment projections are more difficult to analyze for reading than for most other teaching fields because qualification in reading is an "add on" license. That is, an educator must be licensed in another field before licensing in reading will be granted. The 1997 survey data returned from the district administrators had an average rating of 3.9, indicating a moderate shortage. The attrition was 6.8 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. The consistent yearly data on emergency licenses (148) indicate a shortage of teachers in this field (Table 12). The impact of future retirements will result in an increase in the demand for reading teachers. Many teachers are hired from personnel within the district, making it more difficult for those seeking new positions in this area to find employment. OUTLOOK: Average to Good The rating has been consistently "average" to "good" over the past several years. Foreign Language Starting with the 1996-97 school year, the DPI required that foreign language instruction be available to all public school students in grades 7 and 8. During the past several years the number of newly-hired foreign language teachers has shown considerable variation (Table 5), with the greatest demand in 1998-1999 (over 67 percent) being for teachers of Spanish. One hundred forty-six people completed licensure in the area of foreign languages in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 38 full-time equivalent positions in this field were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. An additional 8 teachers with licenses in foreign languages and other fields were employed in such positions as elementary education, English, and English as a second language (Table 6). Twenty-three percent obtained positions in their licensing area of foreign language, and this increased to 28 percent when employment in an additional licensure field was included. The attrition rate was 7.2 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Future retirements will have only a modest effect in this field. Note that the discrepancy in the number of teachers in Table 4 and in Table 6 occurs because in Table 4 the count is the number of teachers by position, which includes elementary education teachers with an elementary minor teaching foreign languages at the middle/junior high level. OUTLOOK: Average The current outlook is best in Spanish. Candidates in other foreign languages than Spanish will need to be more mobile in securing a position. English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education Thirty-eight individuals completed licensure in the area of English as a second language (ESL) in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). Wisconsin Public Schools hired 16 new, Wisconsin-prepared teachers (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. All of the newly hired teachers without experience in ESL positions had additional licenses. An indicator of the shortage of licensed teachers is the large number (98) of emergency licenses issued in ESL (Table 12). An additional 67 were issued in bilingual education. The attrition rate for ESL teachers was 7 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Increased retirements will have only a modest impact in this field. This attrition rate is in part a reflection of the mobility of the population served. The employment outlook for teachers in this field is largely based on demographic trends, which generally indicate that increasing numbers of students will require the services of teachers prepared in this field. Following national and state trends, English as a second language continues to be in demand. The employment outlook for bilingual education is also good--especially for those prepared in Spanish. OUTLOOK: Good Teachers with an add-on license in this area of preparation will find increased employability in other fields. Additional teachers need to be prepared in this field. Mathematics One hundred sixty-four individuals completed licensure in mathematics in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 76 full-time equivalent positions in mathematics were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. Twenty-five percent of the newly prepared teachers with mathematics licenses found employment in their field in Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 6). This increased to 27 percent when the teachers that have licenses in additional fields secured positions. The 1997 survey from the district administrators gave mathematics a rating indicating an average number of applications for positions. The employment prospects for mathematics teachers in Wisconsin remains inconsistent with the public perception of a great need. Media stories portray the field of mathematics education as having a shortage of teachers. However, past Wisconsin data have frequently indicated that the job outlook in mathematics was poor. At the middle/junior high school level a large number of teachers with an elementary license find employment in mathematics, reducing the need for teachers prepared with a major or minor at the secondary level. The data in Table 11 show that there has been a low demand for math teachers over the past three years. The attrition rate for mathematics teachers was 6.1 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. This data indicates that the increased retirements will have only a modest impact on employability in this field. OUTLOOK: Average /Poor Based on the available data, the employment outlook is realisticand suggests that the current levels of preparation are more than adequate to meet the needs of this state. Music One hundred forty-nine people completed licensure in music in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 44 full-time equivalent positions in music were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. Thirty-three percent of the newly prepared teachers with music licenses secured positions in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 6). Four of the teachers had additional licenses in a second field. The three-year average data on employability (Table 11) suggests a low average rate. The attrition rate was 6.1 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Future retirements will have only a modest effect on the need for new teachers.. OUTLOOK: Average The rating is similar to the 1998 rating with slightly improved employability due to increased retirements. Physical Education One hundred and seventy-four people completed licensure in the area of physical education in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 63 full-time equivalent positions in physical education were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The employment outlook for inexperienced teachers in physical education is 30 percent and the outlook for teachers having additional licenses increases to 33 percent in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 6). The attrition rate was 5 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Future retirements will have little impact. The reserve pool of teachers in this field includes a relatively large number of teachers. The 1997 district survey indicated excess in the number of applications for positions. Based on the response from many districts in Wisconsin, some teachers apply for each opening across this state--often 100 or more. The low attrition figure for this field also reduces employment opportunities for new teachers. OUTLOOK: Poor The outlook has improved to "poor" the best since this report was initiated. This improvement is based on the reduced number of teachers being prepared, a factor which has improved the employment outlook. Health The area of health is closely tied to physical education because many teachers in these fields are licensed in both areas. Most of the teachers hired for these positions were given part-time teaching assignments. The health license improves, to only a small extent, the employability of teachers with licenses in other fields. OUTLOOK: Poor The employment outlook in these related fields will remain at a low level as long as the number of newly prepared teachers remains high. Art One hundred and twenty-nine individuals completed licensure in the area of art in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 34 full-time equivalent positions in art were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. Twenty-six percent of the newly prepared teachers secured art positions, and another two percent found positions in other fields in which they had licensure (Table 6). The 1997 rating from the district survey showed average employability of applicants for positions. The attrition rate was 5.1 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Retirement will have only a modest effect on the current employment outlook. There appears to be a large reserve pool of potential teachers in this field. OUTLOOK: Poor to Average This rating remained the same from the previous year. The rating has fluctuated from "poor" to "average" over the past several years. Science Science has drawn considerable national attention as a field with a perceived shortage of teachers. This is due, at least in part, to various publications that describe shortages of science teachers. While some studies have been done on this topic, some confusion still exists regarding the employment prospects for science teachers. Wisconsin data have consistently contradicted the perceived shortage. This year for the fifth time the rating has been "average." Future retirements will gradually increase the demand for teachers. Science is the only secondary field, other than specialty fields, in which a teacher has previously been required to have a major to be eligible to teach in Wisconsin. This is a major reason why 89 emergency licenses were issued (Table 12). One hundred and fifty-six people completed licensure in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 63 full-time equivalent positions in science were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The projected employment outlook for teachers licensed only in science is 23 percent. For science teachers with additional licenses, the rate increases by 5 percent in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 6). The most common additional licensing area for science teachers was mathematics. The 1997 district survey indicated a shortage in several of the science fields in large part because only part-time positions were offered to the candidates and often the position required an unusual combination of licensure. The attrition rate that was reported in the 1998 edition of this report was 6.7 percent. In high schools, teaching in some science areas (e.g., chemistry and physics) is often a part-time assignment. This makes the employment prospects appear better than they really are. The number of positions at the middle school level includes candidates with either elementary or secondary licenses. OUTLOOK: Average The employment outlook for this field is "average" for teachers in Wisconsin Public Schools. Social Studies Three hundred people completed licensure in the area of social studies in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 79 full-time equivalent positions in social studies were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The employment projection for social studies positions in the Wisconsin public schools is 20 percent, one of the lowest rating of all subject fields. Teachers with licenses in addition to social studies increase their employment prospects to 32 percent (Table 6). The 1997 district survey confirmed the poor employability also with one of the lowest ratings given. The attrition rate for teachers in this field was 7 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Future retirements will not be a factor in improving employability of teachers since there is a large surplus of educators for this field. OUTLOOK: Very Poor The data in this and previous reports indicate that social studies has the greatest surplus of teachers of all education fields. Library/Media Eighty-three people completed library/media licensure in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). The employability rating for this field is more difficult to determine since the new hires data does not accurately reflect the trends in this field. The attrition rate reported was 7 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Retirement will significantly increase the demand for teachers in library/media, with the largest impact taking place after the year 2000. Data from the 1997 district-wide survey of the number of applications in relationship to vacancies indicated a demand for library/media specialists in many areas of the state. If anything, the number being prepared could be increased because this field does not have a large reserve pool of potential applicants in technology. OUTLOOK: Good The employment outlook for library/media personnel is "good" considering the current level of preparation and the projected increase in retirements. Special Education The field of special education has faced a critical shortage of teachers both nationally and in Wisconsin. The increase in the number of educators being prepared is positive, yet the continued large number of emergency licenses being issued suggests that this shortage will continue in select areas of special education for some time. Factors still indicate a stronger demand than most other areas of education, in part because of the higher attrition rate and in part because of the number of special education teachers who transfers to general education. New this year is the consolidation of the tables including cognitive, learning disabilities and emotional disturbance, a change, which reflects the overlap in the delivery of services to the children enrolled in these programs. Cognitive, Learning Disability, and Emotional Disturbance Six hundred and forty-three people completed licensure in the areas of cognitive (CD), learning disabilities (LD), and emotional disturbance (ED) in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 163 full-time equivalent positions were filled in the three categories by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. Forty-three percent of the new, Wisconsin-prepared teachers without experience secured positions in the field (Table 6, column 7 ). Many of these teachers had licenses in more than one special education field, which increased their employability (many finding positions in multicategorical programs). The large number of emergency licenses issued-- (Table 12)--reflects the fact that many of these licenses are for multicategorical programs and do not necessarily indicate a severe shortage in the field. The 1996-1997 attrition rate for teachers in these fields reported in the 1998 edition of this report varied from 4.9 to 8.1 percent. The reserve pool of teachers seeking positions has declined. Retirement will have minimal impact on the demand for teachers in any of the special education fields. Though these areas are combined, there is a much more serious shortage of teachers for those willing to teach children identified as emotionally disturbed. OUTLOOK: Average for Cognitive and Learning Disabilities and Excellent for Emotional Disturbance This field was impacted by the multicategorical licensing requirements. This is evident by the number of individuals licensed in this field who are on emergency licenses and employed in this program area. Hearing Impaired Two people completed licensure in the area of hearing impaired in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of four full-time equivalent positions in hearing impaired were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The prospect for newly prepared teachers with a hearing impaired license being employed in their field is best projected over the past three years because of the small number of educators in this field. Table 11 shows that the Wisconsin employability of new inexperienced educators in this field over the past three years has averaged 100 percent. The attrition rate for teachers in this field was 5.8 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Teachers who are mobile will be less restricted in securing employment as only a few available positions exist in this low incidence disability area. Data suggests that the number of teachers being prepared could be increased to better meet the state's needs. OUTLOOK: Good to Excellent Teachers prepared in this field who are mobile have an excellent chance of securing employment. This year's rating is consistent with the past year. Early Childhood Special Education Seventy-eight individuals completed licensure in the area of early childhood special education in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). A total of 13 full-time equivalent positions in early childhood special education were filled by Wisconsin prepared inexperienced teachers in the Wisconsin Public Schools (Table 4) for the 1998-1999 school year. The employment prospects for newly prepared teachers in Wisconsin Public Schools with early childhood special education licensure in their field is 14 percent. For those with additional licenses the employment prospects are 28 percent (Table 6). The attrition rate for teachers in this field as reported in the 1998 edition of this report was 6.3 percent. It is difficult to assess the staffing needs for public school programs when data are not available to show the need for teachers employed in the birth-to-three age group. The available data do not indicate an additional need for teachers, yet, according to the data from the administrators' survey reported in 1997, a geographic imbalance exists, with shortages in some rural areas of Wisconsin. The increased emphasis on programs for preschool children identified as early childhood special education may increase the number of teachers needed. The employment outlook for teachers in this field is poor for employment in the public schools. Retirement will not be a factor in the demand for teachers in the near future. OUTLOOK: Poor Even with the need for educators in certain geographical areas and non-public school programs the large number of newly prepared teachers in relationship to the needs in the public schools results in a poor outlook. Teachers who are mobile have a greater chance of employment. Speech and Language Pathology One hundred and forty people completed licensure in the area of speech and language pathology (S/L) in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). The special education field attrition rate for speech therapists was 4.6 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. The total number of emergency licenses issued was 42 (Table 12), indicating a shortage in some areas. Large proportions of speech and language pathologists are employed outside of education, therefore increasing the demand for pathologists to work in public schools. The best indicators of the employment outlook for this field are found in the data from the related service survey presented in the 1995 edition of this report and the survey sent to district administrators in September 1996. These two surveys showed that there is a serious shortage of personnel in this field. The reserve pool analysis in this report showed some areas with only a slight shortage. The need is greatest in the northern and western rural areas of Wisconsin. OUTLOOK: Good to Excellent The geographical mobility of therapists is the main determinant in the "good to excellent" rating of this field. Visually Impaired There is limited data available in this field since Wisconsin does not prepare teachers in this area. This is the smallest teaching category in special education. A concern is the high attrition rate of 11.1 percent reported in the 1998 edition of this report, indicating a high turnover of teachers. Three new teachers for the visually impaired were hired in 1998-1999 (Table 4). The 1997 district administrators' survey gave the highest ratings in special education to the visually impaired category, indicating a serious shortage of personnel in this field. OUTLOOK: Excellent Wisconsin will need to increase its out-of-state recruitment effort to meet the future needs of this state. Related Services Related services are relatively difficult areas to investigate primarily because of limitations in the database. Nonetheless, these fields are an important part of the educational services provided in Wisconsin, and the following information will lend some insight into the employment prospects for these fields. The data collected in the 1995 edition of this report is presented as a supplement to the 1999 data since a separate analysis was not done for this report. School Audiologist This field is relatively new for this state (effective July 1, 1994), which accounts for the small number of individuals and limitations of the database. Very few districts had identified vacancies. OUTLOOK: Average This rating is based on the time in months to fill the vacancies and the number of applicants for each position for this new field. Educational Interpreter Based on the survey results indicating time to fill the vacancies and the number of applications received, a general picture of the personnel status of this field was determined. A cause for concern is that many of the candidates did not have adequate educational training for the field. OUTLOOK: Average This rating is based on the time in months to fill the vacancies and the number of applicants for each position in this new field. Physical Therapists The recommendation is based on the related services survey and the district survey data in the 1997 report. That survey showed that the need for physical therapists was greatest of all the related services and overall indicated a shortage more severe than in any other field. Many districts contract people outside of education for this service. Data collected in previous years has consistently indicated a critical shortage of personnel in this field. The survey reported in the 1995 edition of this study showed that there is a severe shortage of physical therapists in all areas of the state. The attrition rate reported was low-- 4.3 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Retirements will be moderate in the near future. The comments on the 1995 survey consistently indicated that the field of physical therapy had the most critical shortage of personnel of any related service area. OUTLOOK: Excellent All the data sources support the recommendation that the employment opportunities are excellent for this field in the public schools. Physical Therapist Assistant The availability of licensing for this field is new for the state, effective July 1, 1993, which accounts for the small numbers of individuals in the field and the limitations of the database. OUTLOOK Excellent This recommendation is in part driven by the critical shortage of physical therapists, which should increase the demand for assistants. Occupational Therapists The recommendation presented is based on the related services survey and the 1997 district survey data. As with physical therapy, many individuals in this field secure positions outside of education. The attrition was 6 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. This field has the second highest rating in the related service area, indicating a severe shortage of personnel. OUTLOOK: Good to Excellent There is a shortage of occupational therapists for programs serving children with disabilities. Occupational Therapist Assistant The availability of licensing for this field is relatively new for the state, effective July 1, 1993, which accounts for the relatively small numbers of individuals in the field and the limited data. OUTLOOK: Good There is a moderate shortage of occupational therapist assistants. School Psychologists Ninety-four people completed licensure in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). The data presented here are also based on the 1995 related service survey and the 1999 application analysis. The district survey showed that there were a high average number of candidates available for positions. During the 1998-1999 school year 40 school psychologists were hired in the public schools (Table 4). The attrition reported was only 3.7 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Retirements will be moderate in future years. The current level of preparation is adequate. OUTLOOK: Average The employment outlook for this field is "average," with geographical mobility a factor in employment. School Social Worker The recommendation presented is based on the related service survey and the 1997 district survey. Twenty people completed licensure in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). The attrition was 4.4 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. The 1997 district survey showed an "average" need for candidates in this field.
Registered Nurse The recommendation presented is based on the related service survey alone. The data suggests that an adequate supply of registered nurses is available for the public schools. OUTLOOK: Average School Counselors One hundred forty people completed licensure in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). The attrition was 6 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Future retirements will have only a moderate effect. The 1997 district survey points to an average rating in terms of candidates available in this field. OUTLOOK: Average The number of counselors being prepared meets the needs. School Administrators District Administrators Fifteen people completed licensure in the area of district administrator in Wisconsin during 1997-1998 (Table 1). The data in Table 4 indicated 25 administrative positions were filled in the 1998-1999 school year. The 1997 district survey showed that there were 21 vacancies and the rating for these vacancies was in the high average range, suggesting an adequate supply of candidates. The attrition for this field was a high 12.3 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. The projected future retirements will significantly increase the demand for personnel in this field. OUTLOOK: Good Based on the projected high retirement levels, the number of administrators prepared will need to be increased to meet the needs of the field. Principals One hundred and forty-six people completed a principal program in Wisconsin during the 1997-1998 school year (Table 1). The number of people prepared far exceeds the employment opportunities. It may be that many licensed teachers who complete an administrator's license may choose not to seek a principal position. The 1997 district survey had 108 vacancies listed at the elementary level and 81 at the secondary level. The rating given both the elementary and secondary principal positions was very similar and in the low average range. The attrition was 6.7 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this report. Retirements will increase the employability of educators in this field. OUTLOOK: Average to Good The outlook for becoming a principal has been poor to average for many years. This year's improvement is based on the projected retirements. The outlook would be poorer were it not for the fact that many individuals with this licensure apparently do not seek positions. Director of Special Education Sixteen new licenses were reported earned in 1997-1998 (Table 1). Table 4 indicated that 10 directors of special education were hired in 1998-1999. The 1997 district survey showed that there were 29 vacancies . This same survey gave a good rating of employability based on the number of applicants for each position. The attrition was 6.3 percent as reported in the 1998 edition of this study. The retirement data shows the second highest projected loss of personnel of any educational field. OUTLOOK: Good to Excellent Based on the limited data available there will be an increased shortage of licensed directors of special education.
Last updated on 12/6/2010 1:33:22 PM |
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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers
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