California’s teacher shortage is not just a numbers crisis—it is a human one. Voices from the Classroom, a study by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools and the California Teachers Association, amplifies the lived experiences of more than 4,600 current teachers and dozens of aspiring and former educators.

The findings are sobering: half of California’s teachers have considered leaving the profession, one in five expect to leave within three years, and burnout from stress, low pay, political attacks, and lack of support top the list of reasons. Teachers of color and LGBTQ+ educators report disproportionately high rates of discrimination, while aspiring teachers highlight the crushing financial burden of preparation programs and unpaid student teaching.

Yet, the report also offers hope, pointing toward solutions that could strengthen the profession: better pay, smaller class sizes, improved student support, culturally inclusive environments, and paid student teaching. Download the full report to understand what it will take to keep teachers in classrooms.