ERIC Number: ED632575
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 108
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3776-1963-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Best and Brightest: An Investigation into Florida's Teacher Scholarship and Teacher Retention
Oswald, Connor J.
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, The Florida State University
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Florida's Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship on the retention rates of "High-Quality" Teachers. In 2015, the state provided $44 million for recruitment and retention bonuses of $10,000. In subsequent years, the program was reduced in size of award until ultimately canceled in 2020. The program used teachers' SAT or ACT scores (specifically if their score was above the 80th percentile) to determine if a teacher would qualify for the award. If they were not a new teacher, they would submit a combination of SAT/ACT scores and their principal's evaluation. I use logistic regression to estimate the influence the policy had on the rates of retention. I do not address the effects on recruitment due to sample size limitations. Further, I estimate if the program was more influential based on the subjects that teachers were certified to teach and defined by Florida as critical shortage areas subjects. Finally, I report on the differential rates of retention as the size of the award varied after the decrease in award amount. The findings are that the teacher scholarship was related to an increase in retention for critical shortage area subject teachers who received the award, as well as the entire sample of educators who received the award. No effects were found for early career teachers. The policy implications are addressed, and future research avenues are discussed. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Scholarships, Teachers, Teacher Persistence, Awards, College Entrance Examinations, Scores, Teacher Recruitment, Teacher Shortage, Novices, Educational Policy, Influences
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: SAT (College Admission Test); ACT Assessment
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A