Nearly half of the new teachers entering education leave the profession within their first five years, creating what many describe as a revolving door of educators (Ingersoll, 2003; Ingersoll et al., 2018). This qualitative research study used Delphi methodology to facilitate an anonymous panel of Illinois educators tasked with gaining consensus…

This investigation focused on the different forms of online collaboration used by current novice teachers in rural districts in Illinois. Two main research questions guided this study: 1) How do novice teachers use online collaboration? and 2) How does online collaboration affect their teaching practice? This study consisted of four qualitative…

For five years running, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has tracked states' teacher policies, preparing a detailed and thorough compendium of teacher policy in the United States on topics related to teacher preparation, licensure, evaluation, career advancement, tenure, compensation, pensions and dismissal. The 2011 State Teacher…

Induction has become an increasingly popular strategy for school districts across the country that seek solutions for high attrition rates among teachers who are new to the profession. In Illinois public schools, the attrition rate among new teachers can be as high as 40 percent after only five years on the job. Such turnover levels are costly for…

A study investigated the responses of 169 elementary school teachers to a questionnaire collecting three types of data: (1) information pertaining to four unique items prepared specifically for elementary school teachers; (2) data regarding seven teaching roles and related activities for each role; and (3) written comments. The two situations…

This Illinois' edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's (NCTQ's) 2009 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" is the third annual look at state policies impacting the teaching profession. It is hoped that this report will help focus attention on areas where state policymakers can make changes that will have a positive impact on…

This study examined the differences between Illinois beginning elementary and secondary teachers' perceptions of staff development activities and their sources of assistance during the first year. A survey in spring 1989 received responses from 601 elementary and 234 secondary teachers. Beginning elementary teachers rated the importance of staff…

The implications of departure of teachers from the work force are examined. Specifically questioned are the departure patterns of teachers with less than one year experience, departure patterns of teachers with twenty or more years of experience, and the relationships between the age and the experience of teachers. These questions make…

In Chicago and suburban schools there are many teachers who have not had an opportunity to take part in either induction or orientation programs during their first year of teaching. Exposed to proper and adequate induction programs, beginning teachers may demonstrate higher performance and skill in classroom management, instruction, discipline,…