Dive Brief:

• Jackson Public Schools must fill 218 open positions for certified teachers, guidance counselors, and interventionists by the beginning of the school year.
• If the spots are not filled, students will start the year off with a retired teacher or substitute — though this also occurred last year 
• The state's accountability ratings may be to blame for the shortage. Jackson Public Schools is rated a “D" and teachers may have left for "A" or "B" districts, where they are promised financial incentives for the higher scores. The starting salary is also higher in neighboring districts.    

Dive Insight:

Jackson is not alone. Four other districts in the state have even more positions to fill before September. While the numbers are high, it is important to remember that turnover is par for the course and sorting out staff issues is always a summer task — in other words, the numbers will always sound the worst in July.