Giving Compass' Take:

• There is a significant drop in teacher training enrollment, suggesting a decrease in educators which further exacerbates the teacher shortage.

• What are the underlying reasons for the teacher shortage? How can donors help invigorate public investment in education?

• Learn more about the teacher shortage in the United States.

The number of students enrolled in teacher prep programs decreased by one-third since 2010, representing a drop of 40,000 aspiring educators learning the trade. The data comes from the liberal-leaning think tank Center for American Progress, which analyzed data from the Department of Education.

While nationwide figures can be limited because most teachers choose to work within 15 miles of their hometown, the report also found a decrease in teacher training enrollment in all but four states. In some states, such as Michigan, Oklahoma, and Illinois, enrollment declined by more than 50%.

The drop in teacher training enrollment suggests that issues plaguing the profession — from low pay to dwindling funding — has discouraged potential educators, exacerbating the nationwide teacher shortage.

Part of the reason many rejected the education field was due to low pay. Teachers get paid nearly 21% less on average than other professions that require a college degree. Thirty years ago, the pay gap was just 2% less.

Public investment in education is lower than it was in 2008 in 29 states, which resulted in many teachers needing to spend hundreds of their own dollars for school supplies. One in six teachers work multiple jobs to make ends meet, according to Pew Research Center.

Read the full article about teacher shortage by Allana Akhtar at Business Insider.