LUBBOCK, Texas -- As the public-school teacher shortage gap gets wider, schools are trying to find ways to fill the classrooms. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 86% of K-12 public schools around the United States reported challenges in hiring teachers for the 2023-2024 school year. According to Assistant Professor at Texas Tech College of Education, Jacob Kirksey, some schools are filling the teacher shortage gap with uncertified teachers.  Some areas of the South Plains expected to experience first freeze on Tuesday night "I started to look at how many folks were entering classrooms who were uncertified, meaning they have no record at all with the state as having any sort of training or certification to become a teacher,” Kirksey said in an interview with EverythingLubbock.com. Kirksey found that uncertified educators made up 45% of full-time, new teacher hires in his research on the issue. This is possible because of a Districts of Innovation policy, which was passed in 2015. The policy was intended to make teaching more accessible and appealing to people who have expertise in certain areas such as engineering or welding. However, Kirksey said now, one in two teachers are going into classrooms uncertified or partially trained and they’re teaching core classes, such as math and reading. According to Kirksey, it’s affecting students negatively. "I found that having an uncertified teacher has resulted in learning loss of three to four months of learning in math, and reading respectively," Kirksey said. While some schools along the South Plains are already taking steps to help with recruiting and retaining teachers, like creating a four-day work week, or helping teachers with transportation to school, Kirksey found a few long-term solutions to the issue. One of those solutions being state investment into teacher residency programs that would effectively train teachers. Outlaw Egg Rolls says farewell after a good four-year run in Lubbock "They have teachers co-teaching alongside a professional, effective teacher for a year before they ever have to lead their own classroom,” Kirksey said.  Another solution is investment into the teacher incentive allotment program, which would help ensure teachers get the pay and recognition they deserve. “The idea is that if you're an effective teacher, you should be able to make a six-figure salary,” Kirksey said. “They need to feel supported in the classroom. They need to feel support from their school leadership, and they need to feel support from the district, and I think all of those areas of support fall on the state.” Kirksey brought his findings to the Committee on Public Education in hopes of bringing light to the issue.