Baton Rouge Alliance for Students Action calls for urgent action to address the teacher workforce crisis
Baton Rouge, LA — A newly released publication from the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students Action warns that the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) faces a critical challenge in the educator workforce and calls on the school board to adopt a comprehensive strategy to attract, develop, and retain high-quality teachers.
Titled “A High-Quality Education Begins With High-Quality Teachers: It’s Time To Invest In An Educator Workforce Strategy,” the report highlights alarming trends in teacher vacancies and attrition, arguing that without immediate, strategic action, student outcomes and long-term community success are at risk.
The report also underscores the scale of the challenge facing EBRPSS:
- 1 in 5 teacher vacancies in Louisiana are in EBRPSS
- Teacher attrition in the district is 23%, compared to a 13% state average
- Nearly 1 in 4 teachers leave each year, with 70% exiting within five years
- The district spends up to $25,000 per teacher on recruitment and onboarding—totaling an estimated $25 million annually
While vacancies have declined over the past year, filling positions alone is not enough without retaining quality teachers. Drawing on survey responses from educators across the parish, the report identifies the primary drivers of teacher attrition and meaningful regional differences in educators’ experiences across North Baton Rouge, Mid-City, and South Baton Rouge, highlighting the need for targeted, data-driven solutions.
“Every child deserves access to a high-quality education, and that starts with a high-quality teacher in every classroom,” said Adonica Pelichet Duggan, CEO of Baton Rouge Alliance for Students Action. “The data make clear that we are falling short in a particularly difficult moment nationwide, and that requires urgent, strategic action from the school board.
“If we get this right, Baton Rouge can become a model for how a community invests in its educators and delivers on the promise of public education,” said Pelichet Duggan. “This is ultimately about outcomes: for students, for families, and for the future of Baton Rouge.”
The full report can be found here.
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About the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students ActionThe Baton Rouge Alliance for Students Action works in partnership with a coalition of parents, community, civic leaders, and policymakers to achieve the shared goal of an excellent education for every Baton Rouge student. The Alliance’s work focuses on empowering families, elevating community, and engaging leaders. The Alliance cultivates and supports diverse, student-centered leaders who believe that high-quality schools serving all of Baton Rouge’s children are vital to ensuring the city’s growth and success.
