Rubio Bill to Target Root Causes of Teacher Shortage Passes CA Legislature

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Senate today passed a bill by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that will collect important feedback from teachers leaving the profession to recruit new teacher candidates and retain veteran teachers.

Senate Bill 1487 – The TEACH Survey (“Teachers Exiting and Addressing the CHallenges Survey”) – would allow the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the California Department of Education to use the existing California School Climate, Health, and Learning Survey to create a module survey. This special module would include questions that dive into the root causes on why educators are leaving their teaching positon and/or profession. The survey’s data would be used for future statewide investments on teacher recruitment and retention efforts. Additionally, an annual report would be submitted to the California Department of Education and the Legislature.

"As a longtime public school teacher, I know teachers love teaching students, but we need to do a better job supporting them," said Senator Rubio. "This survey will glean important information when teachers exit the profession so that we can set policies that will stem the teacher shortage, recruit new, diverse teacher candidates, and retain veterans. Our children need stability, and our teachers need our support." 

In 2020, the California State Teacher’s Retirement System CalSTRS reported that teacher retirements increased by 26 percent (3,202). CalSTRS projected that in 2021, about 16,000 teachers would retire, leaving less educators for our children. The 16,000 retirements would account for 5 percent of the 320,000 teachers in the State. Research shows that many teachers simply quit the profession due to stress and burnout. It is important that the Legislature comprehends the many reasons why educators are turning away from the profession in order to retain the passionate and hardworking teachers.

This bill has the support from the following stakeholders: California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, California Department of Education, California School Boards Association, State Superintendent of Public Institution Tony Thurmond, and Teach Plus. All supporters of this measure collectively recognize the importance of educators and their impact in and out of the classrooms.

Senator Rubio’s SB 1487 strongly encourages the survey to be developed and implemented to gather critical data that will strength our State’s future education polices.

Senator Susan Rubio represents Senate District 22. For more information, visit https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/

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Media Contact: Edward Barrera, edward.barrera@sen.ca.gov