The term "teacher shortage" refers to a situation where there is an insufficient number of qualified teachers available to meet the demand for education in a particular region or across the country. This can result from various factors such as high teacher turnover rates, difficulty attracting and retaining educators, or a lack of funding for educational programs. The shortage can lead to larger class sizes, reduced course offerings, and strained relationships between schools and their teaching staff. To address this issue, some districts may offer incentives such as higher salaries, loan forgiveness, or better working conditions to attract new teachers.