Alaskan Head Start preschool closed due to national teacher shortage, impacting rural low-income children.

A Head Start preschool in Alaska closed due to a nationwide shortage of preschool teachers, leading to a decrease in the number of children and parents served by the program since 2013. The closure affects rural communities, where Head Start might be the only child care center for working parents. In 2022, around 25% of Head Start teachers left their jobs, with some retiring early and others lured away by higher-paying work in retail or at school districts. Without these teachers, the preschools cannot serve as many students, affecting children from low-income families who depend on these high-quality environments.

August 05, 2024
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