Maryland school districts steadily recovering from high teaching vacancies as unions worry over retention

With the academic year in full swing, many public school districts in the Baltimore area are still working to address teacher vacancies, but the gaps are not nearly as large as in the past few years. Ranging from 171 vacancies in Baltimore City schools to zero in Harford County, the progress is measurable. School officials and teacher union leaders say state-mandated salary increases, apprenticeship programs and recruitment initiatives have helped several counties reduce vacancies.