Care, Capital, and the Teacher Shortage: “If We Can’t See It, We Can’t Change It”

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Fed Up and Pushed Out: Teacher Working Conditions and Retention in the United States (Table 2)

Abstract

The national teacher shortage, described by the Economic Policy Institute as "real, large and growing," has prompted research into its supply-demand dynamics, policies, and organizational structures. However, the interplay between care, capital, and this shortage remains underexplored. This paper seeks to address this gap by applying Premilla Nadasen’s framework from Care: The Highest Stage of Capitalism (2023) to the issue. It examines how social reproduction and the crisis of care drive teacher attrition and explores how capital and the state benefit from the shortage. By analyzing data from the Economic Policy Institute and investigating mechanisms like staffing firms and federal visa programs, the study offers insights into the structural dynamics of the shortage, advocating for systemic reforms beyond traditional policy fixes.

Author

• Amelia Wheeler, Western Carolina University