Teaching Five Years After the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this report examines the current state of the U.S. teaching profession using national survey data collected from PK-12 teachers in spring 2025. Results suggest cautious improvement in teacher morale, stress, mental health, and retention compared to 2023, indicating increased stabilization across the profession. However, persistent challenges remain, particularly related to workload, emotional exhaustion, student behavior, chronic absenteeism, and uneven parent support - especially for discipline. Differences across school types and poverty contexts reveal that teachers in traditional public, charter, and Title I schools continue to experience greater strain than their peers in private and hybrid school settings. Findings also highlight strong teacher support for cell phone bans, and growing but under-supported interest in using artificial intelligence in their instructional practice.