Virginia Law

Beginning in school year 2001-2002, to obtain the data necessary for establishing critical teacher shortage areas, an annual survey of instructional personnel and administrative personnel licensed by the Board of Education shall be conducted as follows:

1. The Department of Education shall be responsible for the administration of the annual survey and shall:

a. Distribute to each local school division an annual survey of instructional and administrative personnel for the purpose of determining critical teacher shortages. The department may distribute the survey through electronic means; and

b. Post the results of the survey in a manner that will permit access by local school divisions, approved teacher preparation programs, other state agencies, and the public through an electronic process.

2. Each local school division shall be required to submit a completed survey within the timeframe established by the department. If the survey is distributed through electronic means, then the survey shall be completed and submitted to the department through electronic means as identified by the department.

3. To obtain information about the differences in the supply and demand among Virginia school divisions, the survey will require, but will not be limited to, the following data:

a. Number of teaching positions by subject area;

b. Number of teaching positions by endorsement (teaching) area; number of teaching positions not filled by endorsement area; and number of teaching positions filled without the appropriate teaching endorsement;

c. Number of teachers employed without a regular five-year renewable license for their teaching assignment; and

d. Number of teaching position vacancies for which a school division receives three or fewer qualified candidates (licensed or eligible for a license).