A new report says the shortageof skilled teachers in the United Statesis a bigger problem than people may think.The not-for-profit, Washington-basedEconomic Policy Institute, or EPI,published the report last week.It was the first in a six-part seriesthat aims to examine the causes of-- and solutions for -- the national teacher shortagein U.S. public schools.Education experts have long been concernedabout rising teacher shortages.The issue has grown more severe in recent years.EPI's report notes that less than 10 years ago,many teachers were looking for jobs.Then, in 2012, public schools were looking for teachers.That year, the country faced a shortage of 20,000 school teachers.By the 2017-2018 school year,the country was estimated to have a shortage of over 110,000 teachers.Those numbers come from the Learning Policy Institute.However, EPI researchers Emma Garcia and Elaine Weissargue that such estimates are still far too low.They say the estimates do not considerthat many current teachers lack necessary training,experience and official approval to teach.Garcia and Weiss found that, nationwide, one-third of teachersdo not have an education backgroundin the main subject that they teach.And, more than 20 percenthave less than five years of teaching experience.About nine percent are teaching without the usual state certification.The study found those numbers to be even greaterin high-poverty schools – where more than half of studentsreceive free or reduced-cost meals.In such schools, almost 40 percent of teachersdo not have previous education in the main subjects they teach.And about one-quarter have little classroom experience.More and more, qualified educators are either quittingor deciding not to enter the teaching field at all,the EPI report says.Many leave the field because of poor working conditions.They also object to low pay.The average yearly pay for public school teachershas fallen in recent years,even as the cost of living and other expenses continue to rise.In a statement, Garcia said the shortages of skilled teachers"threaten students' ability to learnand reduce teachers' effectiveness."And she noted the high number of teachers who leave their jobstakes economic resources that could be better used somewhere else.A recent study by Gallup found thatfinding and keeping skilled teachersis the number-one concern among public school officials.Sixty-one percent of the superintendents questionedstrongly agreed that "recruiting and retaining" good teacherswould be a big problem for the schools they oversee in the coming year.Gallup noted it was the first time this concernmade its list of top issues facing public schools.Usual top concerns include decreasing state budgets for schoolsand the effects of poverty on student classroom performance.Some states and school districts are trying new methodsfor finding qualified teachers.This week, lawmakers in South Carolina are considering a proposal thatwould permit retired teachers to return to their jobs.They would be able to do so while being paid morethan the state's usual maximum earnings for working retirees.And, more American high schools have begun offering classesto prepare their students for a career in teaching.The classes are part of a program called Educators Rising,which aims to ensure new teachers enter the professionwith necessary skills and knowledge to succeed.School districts hope the classes can one dayhelp reduce the teacher shortage in their states.Researchers Garcia and Weiss saythey hope the EPI's special serieswill bring attention to the many factorsthat have led to the national teacher shortage.Future reports in the series will center on low teacher pay,difficult school environments, a lack of early-career trainingand schools' struggle to retain good teachers.The sixth and final report will offer solutions to address the shortage.