Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Out-of-Field Teachers

In 2004, the percentage of newly hired teachers in Florida who were not appropriately certified dropped to 10.7%, the lowest level in recent years. School districts cite several reasons: An emphasis on hiring "highly qualified teachers" under the No Child Left Behind Act; smaller K-3 class sizes, which create elementary school teaching jobs that are typically easier to fill than positions in critical shortage teaching areas; and a broader range of certification options for those who don't have traditional teacher education degrees.