Teacher shortages are real, but not for the reason you heard

Timothy Allison, a collaborative special education teacher in Birmingham, Ala., leads a class at Sun Valley Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. The Birmingham school system is struggling to fill around 50 teaching spots, including 15 in special education, despite $10,000 signing bonuses for special education teachers. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

Everywhere, it seems, back-to-school has been shadowed by worries of a teacher shortage.

The U.S. education secretary has called for investment to keep teachers from quitting. A teachers union leader has described it as a five-alarm emergency. News coverage has warned of a crisis in teaching.

In reality, there is little evidence to suggest teacher turnover has increased nationwide or educators are leaving in droves.