Cedar Rapids School forces students to move amid teacher shortage [Video]

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District says staffing problems led to the decision to move 57 fourth and fifth graders at Cedar River Academy at Taylor to other schools in the district.

But the Iowa State Education Association said teacher staffing isn’t just a problem at Cedar Rapids’ schools.

The Iowa Department of Education says there are 28 teacher shortage areas, and the second highest ranking shortage is in elementary school teachers.

While Cedar River Academy forcing students to attend different schools might sound like a drastic step, the Iowa State Education Association said it’s reflective of the broader teacher shortage.

“The total number of areas listed as shortages, that list has gotten longer,” said Benjamin Forsyth, UNI College of Education Associate Dean.

On Thursday many parents learned for the first time that after Thanksgiving break, their students at Cedar River Academy at Taylor would …