This study examines the distribution of Emergency Certified (EC) and National Board Certified (NBC) teachers across grade levels and student populations in an urban school district from 2018-2019 to 2022-2023. Using chi-square tests, we analyzed the presence of EC and NBC teachers, focusing on their allocation by grade level and in schools serving higher proportions of economically disadvantaged students, English learners, and students with IEPs.

Key findings reveal significant disparities: middle schools had an excess of EC teachers, while NBC teachers were concentrated in high schools. EC teachers were more common in schools with high proportions of low-income students, whereas NBC teachers were increasingly found in less economically disadvantaged schools. These differences were statistically significant, with p-values consistently below 0.05.

The study highlights concerns about educational equity and the uneven distribution of certified teachers, raising questions about the effectiveness of current policies in ensuring access to high-quality teaching for all students. The findings suggest a need for further research into the impact of teacher certification on student outcomes and the role of district policies in shaping teacher distribution patterns.