Biden's universal pre-K plan could mean a need for at least 40,000 new teachers
CNN
President Joe Biden's plan to create free, universal pre-K would make preschool available and affordable for 6 million more children. But that would mean hiring tens of thousands of new teachers at a time when schools are already struggling to fill existing positions.
But if passed by Congress as part of a sweeping social safety net bill, one major challenge to implementation is hiring tens of thousands of new teachers at a time when schools are already struggling to fill existing positions.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 new teachers are needed to enroll just 70% of 3- and 4-year-olds, according to an estimate from the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. That doesn't include any additional classroom assistants, paraprofessionals or other staff that might be needed.