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Pennsylvania

As of 2020, Pennsylvania produces about sixteen new teachers with at least a physics minor, but Pennsylvania needs at least sixty-five 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.

65

Estimated new physics teachers needed each year at 40% enrollment

24%

Estimated need met each year

48

More physics teachers needed every year

16

Estimated new teachers with at least a physics-related minor

21

New teachers who completed a physics-related teacher preparation program

22

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 Pennsylvania 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
133

New teachers needed each year

16

Estimated new teachers with at least a physics-related minor

12%

Estimated need met

If 40% of students take physics, taught by a qualified physics teacher
65

New teachers needed each year

16

Estimated new teachers with at least a physics-related minor

24%

Estimated need met

If 40% of students take physics, taught by any physics teacher
65

New teachers needed each year

23

New teachers from physics-related preparation programs

35%

Estimated need met

Pennsylvania Institutions

This table reports the number of new teachers with a physics-related major that are prepared by programs in Pennsylvania. 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
Indiana Univ of PA/ MainPhysTEC member badge1211.3
Kutztown University of Pa3101.3
Penn State University - University ParkPhysTEC member badge1121.3
Grove City CollegePhysTEC member badge0031.0
Shippensburg University of Pa1201.0
Slippery Rock University of PaPhysTEC member badge0121.0
Bloomsburg University of Pa1010.7
Clarion Univ of PA/ MainPhysTEC member badge2000.7
Elizabethtown College1100.7
Geneva College0020.7
Figures are based on a three-year average of data reported to Title II. See the FAQ for more information.

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