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Kentucky

As of 2020, Kentucky produces about four new teachers with at least a physics minor, but Kentucky needs at least twenty-six new physics teachers each year to replace those who retire or leave the profession. This shortfall means that physics classes may be unavailable to students who would otherwise take them, and in some cases, under-qualified teachers may be assigned to teach physics. Learn more about the Title II data used in the NRC and about our teacher needs estimates.

26

Estimated new physics teachers needed each year at 40% enrollment

18%

Estimated need met each year

21

More physics teachers needed every year

4

Estimated new teachers with at least a physics-related minor

4

New teachers who completed a physics-related teacher preparation program

4

New teachers with a physics certification from the state

These numbers are estimated from the three most recent years of Title II data available, and they include teachers prepared in Kentucky that completed programs that are not part of an Institution of Higher Education (IHE). On average, each year, non-IHE programs reported that they prepared zero new teachers who have at least a physics-related minor, and that they prepared zero new teachers through a physics-related preparation program. To learn more about non-IHE programs, see this booklet from Title II.

We focus on our estimate of new teachers with at least a physics-related minor throughout most of our analysis, including the calculation of state and national needs being met. While this does not capture every newly prepared physics teacher, it is most consistent with PhysTEC’s definition of a qualified physics teacher. On this page, as well as in individual institution reports, we provide data from Title II on other methods for counting new teachers based on their teacher preparation programs’ subjects and the areas of their state certifications. However, there is overlap among these counting methods, so it is not possible to add the numbers without counting individuals more than once. To learn more about the counting methods for new teachers, see the NRC FAQs.

If all students take physics, taught by a qualified physics teacher
52

New teachers needed each year

4

Estimated new teachers with at least a physics-related minor

9%

Estimated need met

If 40% of students take physics, taught by a qualified physics teacher
26

New teachers needed each year

4

Estimated new teachers with at least a physics-related minor

18%

Estimated need met

If 40% of students take physics, taught by any physics teacher
26

New teachers needed each year

4

New teachers from physics-related preparation programs

17%

Estimated need met

Kentucky Institutions

This table reports the number of new teachers with a physics-related major that are prepared by programs in Kentucky. The table also includes the total number of teachers with a physics-related major who are prepared at programs that are not at institutions of higher education (“Non-IHE programs”). Please contact us if you have additional questions about the Non-IHE programs.

Click on an institution or enter an institution name in the Search box to see an individual institution's report.

Institution
2018–2019
2019–2020
2020–2021
Average
University of the Cumberlands2111.3
Eastern Kentucky UniversityPhysTEC member badge2000.7
Thomas More UniversityPhysTEC member badge2000.7
Morehead State UniversityPhysTEC member badge1000.3
Northern Kentucky University0100.3
Western Kentucky UniversityPhysTEC member badge0010.3
Alice Lloyd College0000.0
Asbury University0000.0
Bellarmine UniversityPhysTEC member badge0000.0
Berea CollegePhysTEC member badge0000.0
Figures are based on a three-year average of data reported to Title II. See the FAQ for more information.

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