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Mississippi commission hears MDE report: teacher pipeline shrank, vacancies rose
Summary
Mississippi Department of Education staff reported that admitted candidates to teacher preparation programs fell about 17% and completer counts dropped about 13%, while elementary and special education vacancies make up 49% of reported statewide teacher shortages.
Dr. Courtney Van Cleave, presenting for the Mississippi Department of Education, told the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education Certification, Licensure and Development on Jan. 9 that state data show a contraction in the educator pipeline and rising vacancies.
The presentation summarized high-level findings from the EPP annual performance report and two statewide surveys. Van Cleave said the 2025 EPP report reflects candidate data from academic year 2023–24 and that admitted candidate counts are down roughly 17 percent from this time last year; completer counts are down about 13 percent. "Together, elementary and special education vacancies alone account for 49% of reported teacher shortages statewide," she said. Van Cleave also noted that recent national comparisons place Mississippi 46th of 49 in teacher pay when adjusted for cost of living.
The MDE official described the department's survey work: the teacher recruitment and retention survey is administered in spring (reporting on the prior school year) and the educator shortage survey is administered in fall; 100% of Mississippi's traditional public school districts completed the shortage survey. Van Cleave emphasized the data have a one-year reporting lag and that the department plans to use the combined findings to inform policy and program responses. "We remain committed as a national leader in educator workforce innovation," she said.
Commission members thanked MDE staff and requested copies of the newly presented data. Commissioners emphasized that some pay and funding decisions are made by the legislature and that local leadership and teacher pay remain critical factors in retention. MDE staff pointed to policy-review steps already underway, including amendments to licensure criteria and tools to help prospective educators navigate licensure pathways.
Next steps: staff said the full survey results and the EPP annual performance report are available on the MDE website and that the department will share additional data with commissioners on request.
