"So long. Farewell. Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye."
For the first time in decades, Quakertown Community School District students will no longer have German among their world language options, a change administrators say stems from a statewide shortage of certified language teachers.
According to the Bucks County Herald, at a recent board meeting, district officials rolled out the 2026-27 Program of Studies, which lists 61 courses for ninth-graders next year — but German will not be one of them.
Assistant Superintendent Lisa Hoffman told board members that while the district values world language programs, it simply “cannot find French teachers, we could not find German teachers,” and low enrollment in the courses also factored into the decision.
Students already enrolled in online or hybrid German courses will continue with them for now, per the report.
Board member Chris Spear described the remaining language offerings — currently Spanish and Mandarin — as “extremely limited” and questionable given the region’s diverse population. Language advocates worry that narrowing choices may further discourage students from continuing language study, according to the article.
Quakertown’s situation reflects a broader trend in Pennsylvania as schools struggle to fill teaching vacancies. Statewide research shows that a large share of districts report at least one empty teaching position, and vacancies continue to cluster in specialized subjects, including foreign languages and world language education.
According to recent Penn State analysis, fewer new teachers are entering the profession than a decade ago, and districts increasingly rely on emergency permits or leave positions unfilled entirely. In the 2023-24 year, roughly 38% of Pennsylvania districts reported at least one teaching vacancy, with shortages concentrated in areas with fewer resources.
Advocates say the teacher supply crisis statewide — driven by declining certifications and high attrition — affects a range of classroom subjects from special education to math and world languages. While departments work to recruit candidates and offer support programs, many Pennsylvania schools continue to grapple with unfilled positions and shrinking course offerings.
