Upper Darby officials warn staffing strains as EL and special‑education enrollments rise

District administrators told the Upper Darby Education and Pupil Services Committee that rising English‑learner (EL) and special‑education enrollments, combined with nationwide declines in new teaching certifications, are worsening local staffing shortages and affecting classroom stability.

At the Nov. 1 committee meeting, Dr. Council, who led the staffing overview, said the district’s total enrollment was 11,918 students and emphasized growing EL and autistic‑support populations that require certified specialists. "Our total student enrollment of 11,918 students," Dr. Council said, "...each additional student represents a need for direct instruction from a certified EL teacher." (Dr. Council)

Why it matters: The district described a mix of transiency and sustained program growth that increases demand for specialized staff even when aggregate enrollment looks steady. Tim Lambert, the district’s manager of data and information, told the committee that cohort analyses show large year‑to‑year student movement and turnover that requires repeated intake, assessment and placement work for buildings and central office.

District officials gave specifics about staffing pressures and stopgap measures. The administration reported 56 emergency‑certified teachers currently employed by the district and said recruiting certified EL and autistic‑support teachers remains difficult. "We have 56 emergency certified teachers working in the district," Dr. Council said, adding that the district has encouraged internal dual‑certification and supported staff through reimbursement programs." (Dr. Council)

Administrators described operational impacts in classrooms if positions go unfilled. Principal Mark Comfort said shortages lead to larger classes, split groups or staff covering classes outside their content area, which in turn reduces planning time and instructional consistency. "When qualified educators aren't available, schools often have no choice but to hire unqualified teachers... This leads to inconsistencies in instructional quality," Comfort said. (Mr. Comfort)

Substitutes and absences: The district said substitute fill rates improved from about 35% to about 47% this year after raising pay, but that more than half of teacher absences are still covered internally by colleagues. Speakers cautioned that internal coverage increases burnout and reduces teachers’ planning time.

What the district is doing: Presenters described multiple approaches to recruitment and retention: encouraging current staff to obtain EL certification (including covering costs for staff to pursue dual certification), targeted recruitment at job fairs, exploring community‑college pathways and apprenticeship‑style training, and boosting retention through onboarding supports and professional‑growth opportunities.

Officials also flagged state and national workforce trends—fewer people earning initial teacher certifications over the last decade—that make local recruitment more challenging and require district investment in pipelines and incentives.

What’s next: Board members pressed administrators on whether current numbers of EL teachers are sufficient and discussed the district’s reimbursement and recruitment strategies. The administration said some proposals are in development, including dual‑enrollment partnerships with local colleges, and promised further updates at future meetings.

Sources: Remarks and slides presented to the Education and Pupil Services Committee (staffing overview and enrollment sections).