The Trump administration’s proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee could mean problems for a rural Nebraska community relying on the visa to fill a teacher shortage

By Mare Pritchard SCHUYLER, Neb. – According to the Learning Policy Institute, the United States is facing a nationwide teacher shortage. The institute reported that during the 2023-24 academic year, school districts across the country faced a teacher shortage of approximately 110,000 teachers, with that number expected to double by 2026.

Rural schools are among the most affected by the teacher shortage. The town of Schuyler, a rural farming community about an hour and a half west of Omaha, found a solution to its teacher shortage in a Southeast Asian country.

“We have about 16 teachers in total over the last two years from the Philippines. They teach anything from our preschool program all the way up through high school,” said Schuyler Community Schools Superintendent Bret Schroder.

Schroder said when one of his principals noticed a decline in teachers at job fairs, the idea to hire internationally came about.

He said the Filipino teachers are highly educated and qualified to fill the gaps.

“The teachers have to have a minimum of 10 years’ experience. They usually have a master’s coming in, so they are well educated,” Schroder said.

Julia Cryne, an immigration lawyer at Carlson and Blakeman in downtown Omaha, said while the H-1B visa process involves multiple steps, one requirement stands out.

“You have to demonstrate that there is no available American worker who is able and willing to accept the position,” Cryne said.

Cryne said being unable to use an H-1B visa could negatively impact school districts and test scores.

“If they can’t get the number of educators they need, they may have to limit the number of students they can accept,” she said. “They may have to increase class sizes significantly, which could negatively affect test scores and other learning outcomes.”

Schroder said regardless of nationality, the goal is providing qualified educators to students.

“We want the best quality people,” he said. “This process of being able to hire from outside the country has helped us fill openings and provide a good educational program for our kids.”