Teachers say they are constantly given new duties. What are they?

According to data from the EdWeek Research Center work does not stop after school ends. After school, many teachers must still attend meetings, call parents, prepare lesson plans, and grade assignments.

Despite this, new duties are constantly being added – at least, it seems that way for many teachers.

In an informal survey conducted, teachers were asked what new duties have been added. Among 743 votes, 59% of respondents stated it was “mental health support,” 26% “extensive data tracking,” and 12% “technical support.” In the comments, several teachers said “all of them,” while one teacher used the phrase “there are many ‘other duties.’”

Mental health support duties have increased due to child depression In recent years, the mental well-being of students has been a major policy priority for school, district, state, and federal leaders, as youth have faced record levels of depression and anxiety.

In fact, recent surveys by the EdWeek Research Center have shown that teachers are increasingly reporting a worsening of student behaviors; these include various situations ranging from minor classroom disturbances to serious fights spreading on social media.

Even hundreds of school districts have filed lawsuits against major social media companies, claiming that their products damage students' mental health and force schools to spend significant resources to manage behavioral and academic outcomes.

Extensive data tracking takes a lot of time Data has long been a source of tension between administrators and teachers. Student data – test results, attendance records, or observation notes – can be used to guide instruction and identify students who are falling behind. However, teachers say that focusing on data collection and analysis has significantly increased their workload.

The widespread use of digital learning devices forces teachers to provide technical support The use of digital devices in classrooms and school buildings is widespread.

In the 2024–25 academic year, districts used an average of 2,982 educational technology tools, according to a report by the ed-tech company Instructure. Teachers used an average of 50, and students used 48 educational technology tools.

Many schools provide a laptop or tablet for educational purposes to every student. For many teachers, this has meant taking on the role of technical support in addition to their other duties.