February 18, 2016 (Sacramento):  Sacramento City Unified School District is hosting an exclusive job fair for Sacramento State teacher credentialing candidates on Friday (February 19). The event is one part of an aggressive recruitment strategy aimed at building teacher ranks for the 2016-17 school year.

Due to a decline in college students entering the teaching profession, California is facing a statewide teacher shortage for the fall. SCUSD hopes to get a jump on the hiring process on Friday by offering employment contracts on-the-spot to Sac State students who will graduate this spring.

“We’re doing whatever we can to get out in front of what is shaping up to be a very serious statewide shortage,” said Superintendent José L. Banda. “Sacramento State is a perfect partner in our efforts as many of its students are graduates of our schools and understand the district’s needs and goals.”

According to a recent report by the Learning Policy Institute, enrollment in educator preparation programs has dropped by more than 70 percent over the last decade.  The decline, coupled with Baby Boomer retirements, has created a shrinking pool of qualified teaching candidates.

SCUSD is lowering class sizes in kindergarten through third grade to 24-to-1 next fall, prompting the need for 75 more elementary school teachers in 2016-17. “Reducing the number of children in our classrooms that serve our youngest learners is the right thing to do,” Superintendent Banda said. “It’s one reason we are stepping up our recruitment efforts: We want to get the best teachers in front of those students and all of our students.”

WHAT:         Teacher Networking and Recruitment Event

WHEN:         Friday, February 19 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE:       The Serna Center, 5735 47th Ave., Sacramento, CA 95824

WHO:           Superintendent Banda, school principals, credentialing candidates