{
  "_readme": "Every state (plus DC) classified by what statewide vacancy data it publishes, and why it is or is not on the dashboard. Every entry was checked directly by this project (see 'protocol'); 'checked' says how: 'direct' = read the agency's (or publisher's) own page or document; 'secondary' = the primary source could not be read automatically and the classification rests on news coverage or a legislative summary of it. 'evidence' lists what was read. 'lpi' records how the Learning Policy Institute's July 2026 scan classified the state, as a cross-check only. Re-check annually.",
  "as_of": "2026-10-10",
  "protocol": [
    "1. Search the state education agency's own website for vacancy or unfilled-position data (site-restricted search).",
    "2. Search more broadly for statewide figures from other publishers: state boards, legislatures, university partners, associations, unions (recorded as non-agency).",
    "3. Open any source found and record what it counts, when, and against what denominator.",
    "4. Classify: included / candidate / counts / different / collects / none, and record evidence links and the date.",
    "5. Compare with the Learning Policy Institute's annual scan and resolve any disagreement by reading the primary source."
  ],
  "cross_check": {"label": "Learning Policy Institute, State Teacher Shortages 2026 Update (July 2026)", "url": "https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/media/5002/download?inline=&file=State_Vacancy_2026_RESOURCE.pdf"},
  "categories": {
    "included": "On the dashboard",
    "candidate": "Publishes a rate or a same-source denominator, but not added yet (reason given)",
    "counts": "Publishes statewide vacancy counts, but no rate or denominator from the same source",
    "different": "Publishes a figure that measures something different (job postings, positions not filled by fully licensed staff, projected hires)",
    "collects": "Collects vacancy data (or has begun to), but no published statewide figures were found",
    "none": "No statewide vacancy data found"
  },
  "states": [
    {"state": "Illinois", "category": "included", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Oct 1 unfilled FTE by category with filled FTE; published rate", "reason": "Start-of-year snapshot with a same-source denominator, multi-year.", "evidence": [{"label": "IWERC/ISBE Educator Shortage report SY25", "url": "https://dpi.uillinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IWERC-Educator-Shortage-SY25-250313.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Virginia", "category": "included", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Fall unfilled FTE / total available FTE (published rate)", "reason": "Start-of-year snapshot, published rate, multi-year.", "evidence": [{"label": "VDOE news release, Dec 10, 2025", "url": "https://www.doe.virginia.gov/Home/Components/News/News/512/227"}]},
    {"state": "South Carolina", "category": "included", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Beginning-of-year vacancies and authorized FTE (CERRA)", "reason": "Start-of-year snapshot with same-source denominator; includes service staff (flagged).", "evidence": [{"label": "CERRA 2025-26 data tables", "url": "https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/5074/Cerra/a87997b0-e84c-4b5f-9ba5-0f7429b59a95/2025-26-SC-Annual-Educator-Supply-%26-Demand-Data-Tables.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Iowa", "category": "included", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "12-month count of full-time postings unfilled or filled by substitutes, / employed teachers", "reason": "Published rate, multi-year; shown as a different measure.", "evidence": [{"label": "Iowa DOE district vacancy spreadsheet", "url": "https://educate.iowa.gov/media/12743/download?inline"}]},
    {"state": "Colorado", "category": "included", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Positions unfilled all year / all teaching positions", "reason": "Published rate, multi-year; shown as a different measure.", "evidence": [{"label": "CDE Educator Shortage Survey results", "url": "https://ed.cde.state.co.us/educatortalent/researchandimpact/educator-shortage-survey-results"}]},
    {"state": "Nebraska", "category": "included", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Vacant and 'unfilled' counts (no denominator)", "reason": "Shown as counts only; illustrates vacant vs. not-fully-qualified.", "evidence": [{"label": "NDE Teacher Vacancy Survey summary 2025-26", "url": "https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-TVS-Summary-Final-.pdf"}]},

    {"state": "Michigan", "category": "candidate", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Fall share of teaching FTE 'vacant' from state personnel records (EPIC/MSU statutory report): 2.8% in fall 2024", "reason": "'Vacancy' includes positions temporarily covered by substitutes or held for staff on leave, and districts were only required to report vacancies from 2023-24, so only one or two years are reliable and the 2023-24 statewide rate appears only in a chart. Revisit when the January 2027 report adds fall 2025.", "evidence": [{"label": "Michigan Teacher Shortage Study 2026", "url": "https://epicedpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Teacher-Shortage-Report-Combined-Jan2026.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Alaska", "category": "candidate", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "DEED 'First Day Vacancy' dashboard: certified positions unoccupied on the first day of contract, shown as counts and percentages over time (counts reported to the Legislature: 260 in FY2021 rising to 598 in FY2025)", "reason": "Possibly a published rate with a long series. The dashboard cannot be read automatically, so its percentages and denominator need a manual check. The first contract day varies by district.", "evidence": [{"label": "DEED data dashboards", "url": "https://education.alaska.gov/data-dashboards"}, {"label": "DEED Fall 2025 data collection handbook (first-day vacancy report)", "url": "https://education.alaska.gov/forms/05-26-008.docx"}]},
    {"state": "District of Columbia", "category": "candidate", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "OSSE fall Faculty & Staff collection: vacant teacher FTE (193.5 in 2025-26; 362 in 2023-24) and teacher headcounts (9,145; 8,767)", "reason": "A rate can be computed from the same collection (about 2.1% and 4.0%), but vacancies are FTE and teachers are headcounts, OSSE does not publish a rate, and 2024-25 is missing.", "evidence": [{"label": "OSSE educator workforce data", "url": "https://osse.dc.gov/page/dc-educator-workforce-data"}]},
    {"state": "Arizona", "category": "candidate", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "ADE fall survey: about 4,200 teacher positions vacant or covered by stopgaps; about 1,400 completely unfilled (reported as about 2.4% of positions in 2025-26 vs. 2.8% the prior year)", "reason": "ADE's report blocks automated access; the percentages could only be confirmed in news coverage. Needs the primary report, downloaded by hand.", "evidence": [{"label": "ADE announcement", "url": "https://www.azed.gov/communications/horne-releases-survey-showing-teacher-shortage-still-crisis-point"}, {"label": "Copper Courier coverage", "url": "https://coppercourier.com/2025/11/17/arizona-teacher-shortage"}]},
    {"state": "Tennessee", "category": "candidate", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "TDOE Educator Vacancy Report: 1,009 (2022-23), 1,434 (2023-24), about 817-831 (2024-25) teaching positions not filled by a licensed teacher for 20+ days", "reason": "Definition includes positions covered by substitutes; a statewide rate ('just under 2%' for 2023-24) appears only in secondary coverage. The State Board PDF could not be retrieved automatically.", "evidence": [{"label": "State Board cover memo, Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/stateboardofeducation/documents/2025-sbe-meetings/november-21%2c-2025-sbe-meeting/11-21-25%20II%20D%20Educator%20Vacancy%20Report%202024-25%20Cover.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Delaware", "category": "candidate", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Hiring-practices survey: 259 instructional and non-instructional positions unfilled at end of hiring season, about 2.5% of the workforce", "reason": "Pools non-instructional staff, end-of-hiring-season timing, survey of HR leads, and no consistent multi-year series.", "evidence": [{"label": "Delaware hiring practices survey 2024", "url": "https://news.delaware.gov/files/2025/01/Executive-Summary-Delaware-Excellent-Educator-Hiring-Practices-Survey-2024.pdf"}]},

    {"state": "Mississippi", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "MDE Educator Shortage Survey (100% of districts, Aug 13 to Nov 1, 2025): teacher vacancies 3,036 (2021-22), 2,593, 2,775, 2,964, 3,815 (2025-26)", "reason": "Five-year agency series, but no yearly denominator; MDE gives only a pooled '8.72% average percent of total classroom teacher vacancies from 2021-2025'. Counts are reported as of varying dates across a 2.5-month window, and their size relative to the teacher workforce (roughly 12% in 2025-26) suggests a broader definition than other states'. Needs MDE's definition before any rate is shown.", "evidence": [{"label": "MDE Educator Workforce Shortages and Strategies, Dec 2025", "url": "https://mdek12.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/12/25-26-Educator-Workforce-Shortages-and-Strategies_FINAL.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Maryland", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "MSDE Annual Vacancy Data Collection: 1,615 (2021-22) to 886.2 (2025-26) teacher vacancies", "reason": "Counts only; no published rate or same-source denominator.", "evidence": [{"label": "MSDE Teacher Workforce Supply and Demand, Feb 2026", "url": "https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/documents/2026/0224/marylands-teacher-workforce-supply-demand-and-diversity-a.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Kentucky", "category": "counts", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "KDE Educator Shortage Survey (100% of districts): 671 certified teacher vacancies as of Sept 1, 2025", "reason": "Agency counts at a fixed date; no denominator published. Confirmed through KDE's Kentucky Teacher article and news coverage.", "evidence": [{"label": "KDE: Kentucky schools show progress toward addressing staffing needs (Oct 2025)", "url": "https://www.kentuckyteacher.org/news/2025/10/kentucky-schools-show-progress-toward-addressing-staffing-needs/"}]},
    {"state": "Missouri", "category": "counts", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "DESE Educator Vacancy Report (Core Data, 100% of districts): 656 FTE unfilled teacher positions, October 2025", "reason": "Agency counts; DESE mentions roughly 72,000 teachers in reporting districts but publishes no rate. The report PDF could not be read automatically.", "evidence": [{"label": "DESE Educator Vacancy Report, January 2026", "url": "https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/educator-vacancy-report-january-2026"}]},
    {"state": "Connecticut", "category": "counts", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "CSDE Biannual Educator Vacancy Survey: budgeted positions districts are actively trying to fill (teachers, special services staff, paraeducators); 795 unfilled teacher positions in August 2025", "reason": "Agency counts on an interactive dashboard; August timing; no rate published.", "evidence": [{"label": "EdSight Educator Vacancy Dashboard", "url": "https://public-edsight.ct.gov/educators/fte-staffing/educator-vacancy-dashboard"}, {"label": "Report notes", "url": "https://edsight.ct.gov/relatedreports/ReportNotes_EducatorVacancy.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "North Dakota", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "University system's annual fall unfilled positions survey: 219.3 FTE teachers unfilled in fall 2024 (public, nonpublic, and other entities)", "reason": "Counts; no denominator; not a state education agency publication.", "evidence": [{"label": "NDUS: new data collection", "url": "https://ndus.edu/new-data-collection-shines-light-on-broader-school-staff-shortages"}]},
    {"state": "South Dakota", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "DOE dashboard: instructional staff FTE vacant at the beginning of the following year (from turnover)", "reason": "Agency counts on a dashboard; tied to turnover; no rate found.", "evidence": [{"label": "SD DOE turnover and vacancy dashboard", "url": "https://doe.sd.gov/data/turnover.aspx"}]},
    {"state": "Louisiana", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "LDOE end-of-year data collection: 736 vacant positions self-reported for 2024-25", "reason": "Counts only, end-of-year timing, and only 22.5% of schools reported vacancies.", "evidence": [{"label": "ULM 2024-25 State Educator Workforce Report", "url": "https://www.ulm.edu/education/2024-2025-state-educator-workforce-report.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Minnesota", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "School boards association fall survey: 205 teacher vacancies as of November 2024", "reason": "Association survey, not an agency; counts only.", "evidence": [{"label": "MSBA Fall Survey Summary, Jan 2025", "url": "https://mnmsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MSBA-2024-Fall-Survey-Summary.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Hawaii", "category": "counts", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "HIDOE teacher vacancy counts (73 for 2025-26; 142 in Sept 2026; about 1,000 at the fall 2022 peak), as reported in news coverage", "reason": "Counts reported by the department to press; no published series or rate found.", "evidence": [{"label": "Civil Beat, Sept 2026", "url": "https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/09/more-unlicensed-teachers-are-filling-in-gaps-in-hawaii-classroom/"}]},
    {"state": "Rhode Island", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "RIDE Educator Vacancy Data page: current unfilled positions by district (e.g., Providence 87)", "reason": "Agency counts by district with a download option; no snapshot date, statewide total, or denominator shown. (LPI lists Rhode Island as publishing no vacancy data.)", "evidence": [{"label": "RIDE Educator Vacancy Data", "url": "https://ecert.ride.ri.gov/vacancy"}]},
    {"state": "Pennsylvania", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "PDE professional vacancies (teachers, administrators, counselors), October and quarterly; flags long-term substitutes", "reason": "Counts only; pools professional roles; collection changed to quarterly in 2024-25.", "evidence": [{"label": "PDE professional and support personnel data", "url": "https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/data-and-reporting/school-staff/professional-and-support-personnel"}]},
    {"state": "North Carolina", "category": "counts", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Superintendents' association survey: teacher and staff vacancies at start of year, 2021-2025", "reason": "Association survey, not an agency; no denominator.", "evidence": [{"label": "NCSSA Vacancy Report 2025", "url": "https://members.ncasa.net/files/NCSSA%20Vacancy%20Report_2025.pdf"}]},

    {"state": "Kansas", "category": "different", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "KSDE fall and spring vacancy reports (1,747 'vacancies' in fall 2025)", "reason": "KSDE's vacancy categories include positions filled by someone 'not fully qualified', so the count pools vacancies with under-qualified fills.", "evidence": [{"label": "KSDE: update on teacher vacancies", "url": "https://www.ksde.gov/Home/Quick-Links/News-Room/ArtMID/3386/ArticleID/2586/State-Board-receives-Commissioner-Watson%E2%80%99s-annual-report-update-on-teacher-vacancies"}]},
    {"state": "Alabama", "category": "different", "checked": "secondary", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Positions in the highest shortage areas not filled with certified teachers (1,684, December 2024)", "reason": "Includes positions filled by long-term substitutes or emergency-certified teachers; shortage areas only. The agency's data page could not be read automatically.", "evidence": [{"label": "ALSDE teacher shortage data", "url": "https://www.alabamaachieves.org/reports-data/educator-data/teacher-shortage-data/"}]},
    {"state": "Nevada", "category": "different", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Report card indicator: vacancies 'not filled by a teacher who has a contract to teach at the school on a full-time basis' (2,881 in 2024-25)", "reason": "By statute (NRS 385A.230) the count includes positions covered by substitutes.", "evidence": [{"label": "NRS 385A.230", "url": "https://law.justia.com/codes/nevada/chapter-385a/statute-385a-230/"}]},
    {"state": "New Mexico", "category": "different", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "NMSU SOAR Center Educator Vacancy Report: 604 teacher vacancies (2025)", "reason": "Counts job postings found on district websites and the REAP job board, which can overstate vacancies; university report, not agency.", "evidence": [{"label": "2025 New Mexico Educator Vacancy Report", "url": "https://alliance.nmsu.edu/soar-center/2025-New-Mexico-Educator-Vacancy-Report.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Florida", "category": "different", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "Florida Education Association counts of vacancies posted on district websites, August and January", "reason": "Job postings compiled by the teachers' union, not an agency count.", "evidence": [{"label": "FEA release, Jan 2026", "url": "https://feaweb.org/release/floridas-teacher-and-staff-vacancies-signal-a-retention-crisis-at-a-breaking-point/"}]},
    {"state": "Montana", "category": "different", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "vacancy data", "what": "OPI: 1,039 open education positions listed before 2023-24", "reason": "Job listings, including non-teaching roles; single year.", "evidence": [{"label": "OPI presentation to legislature, Sept 2023", "url": "https://archive.legmt.gov/content/Committees/Interim/2023-2024/Education/Meetings/september-2023/edic-OPI-RR-sep-2023.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Wisconsin", "category": "different", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "DPI: districts could not find a qualified Tier II licensed candidate for more than 3,700 positions in 2022-23", "reason": "Measures positions not filled with a fully licensed teacher, not vacancies.", "evidence": [{"label": "DPI 2023 Educator Preparation Program and Workforce Analysis Report", "url": "https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/education-workforce/pdf/2023-wi-epp-workforce-annual-report.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "California", "category": "different", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "CDE 'Estimated Number of Teacher Hires' (projected hires for the coming year)", "reason": "Projected hiring demand, not unfilled positions. A one-time Commission on Teacher Credentialing figure (10,000+ vacancies in 2021-22) is not a series.", "evidence": [{"label": "CDE DataQuest: estimated teacher hires", "url": "https://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/dqcensus/StfTchHires.aspx?cdcode=00&agglevel=State&year=2022-23"}]},

    {"state": "Ohio", "category": "collects", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "New law (ORC 3301.82, effective Sept 30, 2025) requires the Department of Education and Workforce to collect vacancy data annually from Sept 30, 2026, and publish it, including positions filled by long-term substitutes, unlicensed or emergency-credentialed staff, and positions left unfilled.", "reason": "Watch for the first publication (likely 2027). Potentially a strong addition.", "evidence": [{"label": "ORC 3301.82", "url": "https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3301.82"}]},
    {"state": "Texas", "category": "collects", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "New TSDS Teacher Vacancy Collection (HB 2) starting 2026-27: all vacant teaching positions Sept 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027, whether or not later filled", "reason": "No figures yet; first results expected after the 2026-27 year.", "evidence": [{"label": "TEA: New TSDS Core Collection: Teacher Vacancy Collection", "url": "https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/new-tsds-core-collection-teacher-vacancy-collection"}]},
    {"state": "Maine", "category": "collects", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Maine DOE now asks districts to certify teacher and educational technician vacancy data each fall (from October 1); LD 2015 (2026) proposed making annual reporting statutory", "reason": "No published statewide figures found yet.", "evidence": [{"label": "Maine DOE staff data reporting", "url": "https://www11.maine.gov/doe/data-reporting/Staff"}, {"label": "LD 2015", "url": "https://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/LDs/132/132-LD-2015.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "New Jersey", "category": "collects", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "NJSLEDS Staff Vacancy collection (required by N.J.S.A. 18A:27-3.5 to 3.7): vacant, new, and eliminated teaching positions each year", "reason": "Results are said to feed the Commissioner's annual staffing report, but no published statewide figures were found.", "evidence": [{"label": "NJSLEDS Staff Vacancy FAQs", "url": "https://nj.gov/education/sleds/faq/staffvacancy/"}]},
    {"state": "New York", "category": "collects", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "NYSED Educator Vacancy and Hiring Survey, annually February to July", "reason": "Results inform state policy but no published statewide figures were found.", "evidence": [{"label": "NYSED Educator Vacancy and Hiring Survey", "url": "https://www.nysed.gov/teacher-leader-development/educator-vacancy-and-hiring-survey"}]},
    {"state": "New Hampshire", "category": "collects", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "NHED annual survey of vacancies by endorsement (previous year, plus positions open in mid-August), used for the Critical Shortage List", "reason": "Publishes shortage designations, not vacancy counts.", "evidence": [{"label": "NHED critical shortage survey", "url": "https://www.education.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt326/files/inline-documents/2020/critical_shortage.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Indiana", "category": "collects", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "State law requires IDOE to collect teacher vacancy data and report it in a Teacher Statistics Report; IDOE's job board counts postings (about 2,200 teaching postings in June 2024)", "reason": "The statutory report could not be found and has lagged; job-board counts are postings, a different measure.", "evidence": [{"label": "IEERB annual report noting the report's absence", "url": "https://www.in.gov/ieerb/files/2024-IC-20-29-3-15-Annual-Report-Republish.pdf"}]},

    {"state": "Arkansas", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Annual teacher workforce report covers shortage areas, pipeline and retention", "reason": "No statewide vacancy counts found.", "evidence": [{"label": "DESE Educator Workforce Data", "url": "https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/educator-workforce-data"}]},
    {"state": "Georgia", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Educator Pipeline dashboards (personnel, not vacancies)", "reason": "No statewide vacancy counts found.", "evidence": [{"label": "GaDOE Educator Pipeline dashboard", "url": "https://georgiainsights.gadoe.org/dashboards/educator-pipeline-teacher/"}]},
    {"state": "Idaho", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Educator Pipeline Report (attrition, authorizations); a one-time 2016 superintendent survey", "reason": "No current statewide vacancy counts.", "evidence": [{"label": "FY25 Educator Pipeline Report", "url": "https://boardofed.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FY25-Educator-Pipeline-Report.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Massachusetts", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Staffing and licensure data by district", "reason": "No statewide vacancy counts found.", "evidence": [{"label": "DESE educator data dashboard", "url": "https://educationtocareer.data.mass.gov/Students-and-Teachers/Educator-Data-Dashboard/nwwi-cbw8"}]},
    {"state": "Oklahoma", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Turnover data and emergency-certification rules", "reason": "No statewide vacancy counts found.", "evidence": [{"label": "OSDE interim study on teacher shortage (2021)", "url": "https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/osde/documents/services/accreditation/legislative-resources/2021%20Teacher%20Shortage%20Presentation.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Oregon", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Educator Equity Report: share of positions vacated each year (a turnover measure)", "reason": "Turnover, not unfilled positions.", "evidence": [{"label": "2026 Oregon Educator Equity Report", "url": "https://www.oregon.gov/ode/transparency/Shared%20Documents/2026%20Educator%20Equity%20Full%20Report.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Utah", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Criticality index (share of positions not filled by fully qualified staff), exit surveys", "reason": "USBE does not publish a statewide count of open positions.", "evidence": [{"label": "Utah TSA Criticality Index 2024", "url": "https://schools.utah.gov/licensing/licensingfiles/Utah%20TSA%20Criticality%20Index%202024.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Vermont", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Agency uses job postings (SchoolSpring) as a proxy", "reason": "The agency says it does not collect position-level shortage data.", "evidence": [{"label": "Vermont AOE staff data", "url": "https://education.vermont.gov/data-and-reporting/school-reports/teacher-staff-fte-report"}]},
    {"state": "Washington", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "PESB shortage display (limited certificates, out-of-endorsement)", "reason": "OSPI's 2025 legislative report says it has no vacancy numbers.", "evidence": [{"label": "OSPI 2025 legislative report", "url": "https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2025-10/statewide-workforce-recruitment-and-absence-manamgent-system-2025-legislative-report.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "West Virginia", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Counts of uncertified or underprepared teachers", "reason": "WVDE reports that it does not publish vacancy counts.", "evidence": [{"label": "WVDE Education Preparation Task Force Report", "url": "https://wvde.us/sites/default/files/2021/12/Education-Preparation-Task-Force-Report.pdf"}]},
    {"state": "Wyoming", "category": "none", "checked": "direct", "lpi": "no vacancy data", "what": "Legislative studies of teacher labor markets", "reason": "A 2023 legislative report lists Wyoming among states with no vacancy data; 2025 testimony still recommends building it.", "evidence": [{"label": "Monitoring Markets and Recruiting Quality Teachers in Wyoming (2023)", "url": "https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2023/04-2023052318-01_MonitoringTeacherLaborMarketsStoddardMay2023.pdf"}]}
  ]
}