This study examined the effect of IMPACT on teacher retention and performance. IMPACT is a high-stakes teacher evaluation system used in the District of Columbia public schools that gives teachers scores reflecting their performance in the classroom and the achievement of their students. Based on these scores, teachers were assigned to one of four…

The four guiding principles behind the blended, competency-based, personalized learning model of Valor Collegiate Academies, a charter organization serving grades 5-12 in Nashville, TN: (1) Reflect the diversity of both our country and local community; (2) Personalize a student's experience to meet his/her unique academic and non-academic needs;…

Limited research is available concerning teacher retention and teacher attrition in Arctic Alaska. This paper reports survey research findings, which identify factors related to teacher retention and attrition in Alaskan Arctic Native communities. Teacher retention rates (2009-2013) vary widely over time showing no significant trends. Results…

This paper presents five ways principals can keep more irreplaceable teachers. These tips are: (1) Start the school year with great expectations; (2) Recognize excellence publicly and frequently; (3) Treat your irreplaceables like they are irreplaceable; (4) Start having "stay conversations" by Thanksgiving; and (5) Hold the line on good teaching.…

Although prior research has documented differences in the distribution of teacher characteristics across schools serving different student populations, few studies have examined the extent to which teacher sorting occurs within schools. This study uses data from one large urban school district and compares the class assignments of teachers who…

Sixty years after "Brown v. Board of Education," retention trends indicate that there is a Black teacher shortage. Research shows that Black teachers' retention rates are often lower than the retention rates of White teachers. Black teachers report low salaries, lack of administrative support, and other school variables as reasons for…

Professional educators--in the classroom, library, counseling center, or anywhere in between--share one overarching goal: ensuring all students receive the rich, well-rounded education they need to be productive, engaged citizens. In this article, a teacher of color in Baltimore discusses his career trajectory, and explains why teacher diversity…

This study measured the attitudes of teachers of students with significant disabilities using the Attitudes of Teachers of Students with Significant Disabilities about Aspects of Their Jobs survey. Teachers who worked with at least one student with significant disabilities were contacted via e-mail and other on-line means across four geographical…

In 2002 the Council of the Great City Schools and its members set out to develop performance measures that could be used to improve business operations in urban public school districts. The Council launched the Performance Measurement and Benchmarking Project to achieve these objectives. The purposes of the project were to: (1) Establish a common…

How can we best prepare pre-service teachers to succeed in the classroom--and to stay in teaching over time? The one-size-fits-all model of traditional teacher education programs has been widely criticized, yet the most popular alternative--fast-track programs--have at best a mixed record of success. An increasing number of districts and charter…

This study examined the effects of a professional development programme aimed at equipping teachers for the challenges of teaching in urban schools. The contribution of the programme to teacher quality and teacher retention was evaluated using a mixed research design in which both quantitative (N?=?133) and qualitative (N?=?42) approaches were…

This article addresses teacher retention in a successful, new, small urban school. As a longitudinal study, it focuses on the intersections between individual teachers' expectations about teaching, contextual factors, and experiences at the school site and teachers' future career plans. The experiences and perspectives of three representative case…

Teacher attrition has far-reaching implications that contribute to the success of student performance at many different educational levels. Research indicates as many as 50% of public school teachers leave the profession within the first 5 years, and some suggest that as many as 20% to 30% leave teaching after the first year. Attrition is a…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to get the opinion of a panel of experts as to which classroom management strategies should be implemented in urban school district mentoring programs to help beginning teachers who are placed in hard-to-staff schools in Los Angeles County, California. Methodology: This Delphi study included 20 expert mentors…

Urban school districts continue to hire teachers who have received their certification through nontraditional routes. For these nontraditionally certified teachers (NCTs), there is growing evidence that improved staff development and administrative support can positively improve NCTs' retention and enhance students' learning. Because the attrition…