A massive teacher shortage in California has more than just students raising their hands in the air asking for help.
According to a new study, one-third of all teachers in the state will retire over the next decade, leaving California nearly 100,000 teachers short.
"We're facing a major crisis that's worse than any we've seen so far," said Harvey Hunt of the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning (search), a nonprofit organization that deals with teacher development policy.
The No Child Left Behind Act (search) made state teacher credentialing requirements tougher, and as a result thinned the ranks of would-be teachers.
Administrators say that, in addition to the tougher credentialing requirements, with an average starting salary of $35,000 it is often difficult to recruit and retain qualified teachers, especially given California's high cost of living and competition from other industries.
"If you're looking to raise a family and have a home, which is everyone's dream, it's going to be very difficult if you're a teacher,” said Barbara Kerr of California Teachers United (search), the state teachers union.
California is not alone in having teacher shortage woes. In neighboring Nevada, the state has become so desperate for teachers that it has recruited from overseas, hiring 34 teachers from the Philippines.
And in Las Vegas, schools are still some 400 full-time teachers short, with classes set to begin next week.
Click in the box near the top of the story to watch a report by FOX News' Trace Gallagher.
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