Rural Schools Face Staffing Crisis as New H-1B Fee Looms

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — When Rob Coverdale started his job in 2023 as superintendent of the K-12 Crow Creek Tribal School in South Dakota, the institution struggled with 15 unfilled teaching positions. Coverdale swiftly addressed the gaps by recruiting Filipino teachers, primarily through H-1B visas.

“We’ve hired the H-1B teachers because we simply didn’t have other candidates. They’re not taking jobs from Americans; they’re filling roles that would otherwise remain vacant,” Coverdale explained.

However, a new $100,000 fee tied to H-1B visa applications threatens to undermine efforts like Coverdale's in rural locations that heavily depend on immigrant workers for skilled jobs including education. This fee was recently introduced by the Trump administration to combat claims that American jobs were being replaced with lower-cost overseas labor.

While large companies might absorb the fee, rural districts face significant budget constraints that make such costs untenable. Melissa Sadorf, the executive director of the National Rural Education Association, stated, “This fee could equate to the salary and benefits for one or even two teachers, making it unmanageable for rural schools.”

A coalition of stakeholders, including healthcare providers and educators, has initiated legal action to challenge the new fee, asserting that its implementation will have devastating impacts on schools, hospitals, and communities that require these vital visas.

Particularly in remote areas, attracting talent has always posed a challenge due to isolation and lower wage offerings. Coverdale mentioned that areas like Stephan, where the Crow Creek school is located, are over an hour from essential services, deterring potential educators.

Mary Joy Ponce-Torres, a history teacher from the Philippines with 24 years of experience, now finds herself at home in Stephan despite initial cultural adjustments. “I saw that I was looking for a similar atmosphere,” she reflected, highlighting the vast opportunities available despite leaving her family behind.

As concerns grow regarding teacher shortages — where one in eight public school positions remains unfilled or occupied by underqualified instructors — the repercussions of the H-1B fee resonate far beyond immediate hiring concerns. The American Medical Association anticipates a significant shortage of physicians over the next decade, further complicating rural health care access.

Addressing these visa issues has become critical not only for educational institutions but for the wellbeing of entire communities that rely on a diverse workforce capable of overcoming geographical and socioeconomic barriers.