Arizona schools continue to report unfilled teacher positions. While the number has shrunk, officials are still saying there’s a teacher shortage.

The Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association’s survey shows about 1,300 vacancies open going into this school year, 500 less than last year.

That’s out of 135 districts and charters who responded.

The Arizona Legislature just passed a law to make it easier for someone with experience but no certificate to become a teacher. More than half of those filling open teacher positions this year did not have standard certification.

ASPAA President Jason Hammond Garcia says more inexperienced teachers are filling those vacancies — but it’s not enough.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve fixed that root cause," he said. "And that root cause still we’re going to say is our teacher pay is not competitive.”

The survey also showed more than 500 teachers left their jobs before this school year.