Critical Needs Teacher

A teacher working in a subject area or geographic region identified by the South Carolina Department of Education as experiencing persistent shortages of qualified educators. Critical needs subject areas include fields with high vacancy rates, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; special education; world languages; and career and technical education. Critical needs geographic regions are school districts, often in rural or high-poverty urban areas, that face challenges in recruiting and retaining teachers. Educators in these roles may qualify for loan forgiveness, salary incentives, and alternative certification pathways to help address workforce shortages and ensure students have access to highly qualified teachers.