WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and school districts across the state are working to address a worsening shortage of agriculture education teachers.
The Daily News in Wahpeton reports some school officials have been scrambling to fill openings in their ag programs. Four out of 79 programs across the state were without instructors and Future Farmers of America advisers at the beginning of the school year, and about 16 percent of the state's educators teaching ag education are eligible for retirement.
In addition, there are fewer teachers studying the topic in college. The state Department of Public Instruction hopes to change that by offering a Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Program.
North Dakota State University currently is the only in the state to offer a degree in agriculture education.