WASHINGTON — Rural school districts across the United States that rely on international educators to address teacher shortages may face new challenges as immigration policies shift under the administration of Donald Trump.
In Allendale County, about a quarter of the teachers in the district come from other countries, many from Jamaica and the Philippines. Superintendent Vallerie Cave said the district values the international teachers but may lose some as visa policies change and sponsorship costs rise.
“Some of my very best teachers are having to return to their countries,” Cave said.
Rural districts often struggle to recruit American teachers because of lower salaries and limited amenities in remote communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many systems increasingly turned to foreign educators to fill vacancies in subjects such as math, science, language arts, and special education.
The challenge intensified after the White House announced a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, which allow highly skilled foreign workers to be employed in the United States. Critics argue the higher cost could worsen labor shortages in sectors beyond technology, including education.
According to the National Education Association, more than 2,300 educators with H-1B visas work in about 500 school districts nationwide. A coalition of 20 states has filed a lawsuit challenging the fee, arguing it would make it nearly impossible for school districts to hire international teachers.
Some teachers also enter the U.S. through J-1 exchange visas, which allow temporary cultural exchange and are not subject to the new fee. However, uncertainty about immigration policies has discouraged some districts from recruiting abroad.
In Umatilla School District, Superintendent Heidi Sipe said two teachers recruited from Spain returned home after a year due partly to uncertainty about their future in the U.S.
To cope with shortages, districts are considering alternatives such as online instruction. Allendale County already uses virtual teachers through Fullmind, which provides certified instructors who teach students via video from remote locations.
Cave said hiring certified teachers who can work directly with students remains the ideal option, but rural districts often face tough choices.
“For rural America, impoverished America, it is still a problem recruiting teachers,” she said.