The certificates allow individuals to be employed as teachers for up to two years before they complete the education or training requirements for regular or alternative certification. Some are certified teachers who lack certification in the subject matter or grade level in which they are needed to teach, but the vast majority are newcomers to education.

School superintendents have to certify to the state that no certified candidates were available to fill a position they wish to fill with someone who needs an emergency certificate.

Right before the start of the past five school years, the OSSBA surveyed district leaders statewide about their number of unfilled teaching vacancies and their need to eliminate positions, increase class sizes, and hire retirees and adjunct or part-time instructors to cope with the teacher shortage.

Hime said he is committed to continuing the survey so that the shortage and its consequences can be understood in real terms by policy makers and the general public.

“In order to find solutions, I believe we have to have the best data available from districts, (including) major difficulties districts are finding in hiring and recruiting the best teachers,” he said.

His take on the new year-end total of 3,038 emergency certifications?