The EdWeek Research Center’s EdRecruiter 2026 survey maps how districts and schools are adapting recruitment and retention strategies amid teacher shortages, political headwinds and the growing use of AI tools in hiring. The report highlights which practices—targeted outreach, flexible hiring timelines, and mental‑health supports—move the needle and which do not. K‑12 HR leaders, teacher‑preparation programs and university career services can use the findings to refine pipelines, align credentialing with district needs, and deploy evidence‑backed retention incentives.