In just one month, from August to September of this year, the Phoenix Police Department recorded 53 threats directed at a Phoenix school or staff member, according to the Arizona Republic. Of course, this number doesn’t represent all of the incidents as sometimes charges aren’t pressed or the incident stays at the school level. 

Among other national issues, the pandemic exacerbated the troubling trend of fewer teachers entering the profession. In turn, it further strained the enrollment in teacher preparation programs in many colleges and universities. 

While some universities are experiencing a steep decline in the enrollment of these programs, others have been forced to end them. Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, on the other hand, has consistently seen a strong enrollment, with the 2,841 students enrolled this fall being about 150 more than in fall 2019. 

Subscribe to