Colorado's Educator Recruitment and Retention Program Showcases Encouraging Results

Colorado's growing teacher shortages have made headlines in recent years, but a state-funded program designed to recruit and retain educators in high-need fields has begun to yield tangible results. The Educator Recruitment and Retention program, launched in 2021, provides up to $10,000 in funding to aspiring educators to cover the costs of their chosen education preparation program. The program also places educators in shortage areas identified by the Colorado Department of Education. According to data from the state's teacher shortage survey, the most critical teacher shortages were for subjects in English language arts, elementary education, mathematics, science, physical education, social studies, and special education generalists.

Key Takeaways:

• The program has seen encouraging results in its third year, with a statewide decrease in educator shortages, from 3.53% in 2023-24 to 2.91% in 2024-25.
• Unfilled positions statewide fell to 0.68% in 2024-25, compared to 1.64% in 2023-24 and 1.90% in 2022-23.
• The program has a retention rate of 88%, with 88% of funding recipients staying in the classroom after their first year, and 50% of recipients reporting that they would not have been able to stay in the field without the funds.
• 94% of funding recipients reported that the program positively impacted their career, citing increased support and a sense of community among educators.
• The program has received positive feedback from educators, with many citing the program as a turning point in their careers, allowing them to pursue their passion for teaching without financial burden.
• The program has also seen an increase in applications, with last year's total applications nearly doubling the amount of available funding for the year.
• Despite the program's early success, work remains to be done to close rural educator gaps, with a reported 6.92% shortage in 2024-25.
• Total unfilled positions have dropped significantly, from 2.05% in 2022-23 to 0.76% in the most recent school year.

Statistics:

• 2.91% of positions in shortage statewide in 2024-25, compared to 3.53% in 2023-24 and 3.63% in 2022-23.
• 0.68% of unfilled positions statewide in 2024-25, compared to 1.64% in 2023-24 and 1.90% in 2022-23.
• 88% of funding recipients staying in the classroom after their first year.
• 50% of recipients reporting that they would not have been able to stay in the field without the funds.
• 94% of funding recipients reporting that the program positively impacted their career.
• 6.92% rural educator shortage in 2024-25, compared to 6.87% in 2023-24 and 6.95% in 2022-23.
• 0.76% total unfilled positions in 2024-25, compared to 1.64% in 2023-24 and 2.05% in 2022-23.

Sources:

• "Teaching in general, but specifically special education, there's a shortage. That's pretty obvious, I feel like," said Isaac Wright, who recently completed his first year as a special education teacher at Centennial Elementary School in Harrison District 2.
• Wright said the biggest takeaways from his first year were classroom management, utilizing technology now associated with teaching, meeting with parents, and implementing individualized education programs (IEP) for each of his students.
• "This is one of those programs that really brings cohesion and advocacy across all party lines," said Margarita Tovar, the Colorado Department of Education's chief talent and human resources officer.
• Tovar added that the program has seen positive feedback on the retention aspect, with 88% of funding recipients staying in the classroom after their first year.
• 94% reported that the program positively impacted their career, citing increased support and a sense of community among educators.
• "I feel like I've found my home, my tribe, a place where I feel supported," said Austin Howell, who began working as a paraprofessional at Prairie Winds Elementary in Lewis-Palmer District 38 last year and will enter the upcoming year as a special education teacher.