As English and social studies teachers go, we are a land of plenty.

Science and math teachers?

Not so much.

And special-education teachers, who are qualified to teach science and math, are especially rare.

Over the next six years, the nation will need tens of thousands of highly qualified math and science teachers, several studies show. Rural and urban school districts will feel the brunt of the shortage, according to published reports.

While Lancaster County may not be facing a critical shortage at this time, it is feeling a squeeze, several top local school officials said.

"It is extraordinarily tough," said Ruben Nazario, coordinator of recruitment and placement for the School District of Lancaster. "We are very fortunate that as of today, as of this moment, we do not have any openings in math and science, which is a terrific place to be."

Lancaster will see 10 times as many applicants for an English position as it will for a science or math opening, Nazario said.

In the Eastern Lancaster County School District, a social studies vacancy will attract 50 to 100 applicants, Superintendent Robert Hollister said.

When there is a high-level science position open, "we'd be lucky to get five."

"We have had to work really hard to find quality candidates for open positions," Hollister said.

Pequea Valley Superintendent Patrick Hallock has noticed the decline as well.

"Physics and chemistry positions are the most difficult to fill," he said.

Turnover and bigger student populations have contributed to the shortage, the National Science Teachers Association reports.

There are also fewer high school graduates pursuing math and science careers, and even fewer pursuing math and science careers in education.

Industry pays better.

In addition, would-be teachers face tougher requirements to earn credentials.

"Science is even more difficult (than math) because of specialized certification" requirements, Hempfield Superintendent Brenda Becker said.

Under the federal mandate No Child Left Behind, teachers must be "highly qualified," which means they must earn certifications in every subject they teach.

For example, a biology teacher can't teach a physics class unless he or she earned certification in physics.

"So there is little flexibility in scheduling and more difficulties in finding qualified candidates," Becker said.

Hollister said that teachers graduate certified to teach, but that does not mean they are highly qualified.

"It's a real frustration for us," Hollister said.

Special-education teachers who are highly qualified to teach math and science are the most coveted.

Special-education teachers often are required to give instruction in several subjects. New rules require these teachers to be certified in every subject, which is costly and time consuming.

That concern will not improve unless colleges and universities "re-tool their special-education preparation programs," Solanco Superintendent Martin J. Hudacs said.

Manfred Eller is a 19-year veteran physics teacher at Garden Spot High School who has earned highly qualified status.

"If he left us, it would be very difficult for us to replace him," Hollister said.

Having a teaching college in the county does help Lancaster County keep shortages at bay.

Millersville University provides the Lancaster district with nearly all of the student teachers, Nazario said.

Jane Bray, dean of MU's school of education, said Millersville graduates high numbers of science and math teachers compared with many other state schools.

But the school does have more students preparing to be language arts and social studies teachers than science and math teachers.

In the meantime, educators at all levels are working to encourage students to pursue science and math.

At the federal level, there are numerous programs in place to attract more science and math teachers.

One of these is the TEACH grant program. It provides money for future educators who want to go into the higher-need areas of science, math and special education, Bray said.

There is also a program called Teach for America, which enlists college graduates to teach for at least two years in an urban or rural district.

When it comes to science and math, the United States has some catching up to do.

On international assessments, the U.S. trails 16 of the world's richest nations in science and 23 nations in math, The Washington Post reported last year.


Staff writer Robyn Meadows can be reached at rmeadows@LNPnews.com or 481-6025.