The school districts building affordable housing for teachers

The shortage of fully-certified teachers in the U.S. has risen to the tune of 425,000, according to a report from the Learning Policy Institute. Part of what could be driving the shortage is extremely high housing costs in some districts.

That’s why some school districts have began to use excess land to build affordable housing units specifically for teachers and their families. And the idea could spread to other industries as well, wrote Patrick Sisson in the New York Times.

“There’s been a huge movement across the country to figure out ways to subsidize housing for first responders, nurses, firefighters,” Sisson said. “This is something that’s being looked at across the board.”

“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal spoke with Sisson about his reporting on how school districts are partnering with developers to create affordable housing for their teachers.

To listen to their conversation, use the audio player above