In the United States, the early care and education (ECE) field has long faced many challenges in attracting and maintaining the skilled and stable workforce it needs. High staff turnover prevails in the field, often fueled by poor compensation as well as limited opportunities for professional development and recognition. At the same time, in an…

This brief examines the underlying research-based rationale for the American Federation of Teachers' (AFT) policy on beginning teacher induction, noting that among the most often-cited reasons young teachers give for leaving teaching is lack of support, and considerable evidence shows that induction is an effective means of retaining them. Five…

As in other states, many North Carolina schools face the challenge of hiring and retaining high quality teachers. Recruiting and retaining qualified teachers in math, science and special education is particularly difficult, especially for the schools serving disproportionate shares of disadvantaged or low-performing students. In 2001, North…

This report is a preliminary exploration of teacher quality in the School District of Philadelphia. It examines three critical junctures in building a work force of quality teachers: teacher preparation, hiring and retention, and equitable distribution of quality teachers. The survey found that schools that serve the highest proportion of…

Although the administrator and board of education are primarily responsible for teacher employment in small school districts, the community can provide additional recruitment incentives and should accept some responsibility for a quality education program. Recruitment and maintenance of teachers must become a joint venture between community and…

Documents greater teacher attrition in the United Kingdom than previously realized and demands a halt to this trend. Urges increasing teacher managers' awareness of factors diminishing job satisfaction, an important factor influencing decisions to leave the profession. Presents three job satisfaction models used in business with possible…

Many school districts experience difficulties attracting and retaining teachers, and the impending retirement of a substantial fraction of public school teachers raises the specter of sever shortages in some public schools. Schools in urban areas serving economically disadvantaged and minority students appear particularly vulnerable. This paper…

The attrition of both new and experienced teachers is a challenge for schools and school administrators throughout the United States, particularly in large urban districts. Because of the importance of this issue, there is a large empirical literature that investigates why teachers quit and how they might be induced to stay. Here we build upon…

In 2007, the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) completed an 18-month study of the costs of teacher turnover in five school districts. The selected districts varied in size, location, and demographics enabling exploration of how these variations affected costs. Costs of recruiting, hiring, processing, and training…

This report is a complete analysis of employment trends in K-12 education. The report provides detailed information on Alaska public school enrollment, Alaska's teaching work force, the supply of teachers from local universities, and the current composition and turnover rates and reasons of Alaska teachers. The near-term demand for teachers is not…

Incentives to encourage teacher excellence for the purposes of teacher attraction, retention, improvement, and enhancement are examined in this report. Motivators involving monetary plans, career status, awards and recognition, professional responsibility, and workplace conditions are described, as well as the issues of cost, planning, and…

This document summarizes the findings of a report by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) designed to help policymakers gain a better understanding of both the nature of the teacher workforce and of promising recruitment and retention strategies. ECS reviewed 91 studies on teacher recruitment and retention in search of answers to eight…

Increases in the school-age population, maximum class size requirements in various states and the No Child Left Behind Act's mandate of a "highly qualified teacher" in every classroom collectively will increase the demand for teachers. However, public school teachers are exiting the profession in large numbers. This poses a serious…

Chris Pipho has identified five factors contributing to teacher shortages: changing demographics, higher enrollment, dwindling teacher supply, competition from industry, and cumbersome certification requirements. Recruiting minority teachers is even more essential than targeting vulnerable subject areas. Strategies for recruiting and retaining…

Reports on a study designed to assess whether mentoring experiences, or the lack thereof, influence the decision of faculty members to stay or leave. Respondents began tenured/tenure-track appointments at the University of Colorado at Denver between 1987 and 1991. Qualitative differences were found in the nature of the mentoring and the outcomes.…