New REL Report Describes Factors Related to Teacher Mobility and Attrition in Colorado, Missouri, and South Dakota

 In Climate, Leadership Development

In coordination with the Educator Pipeline Research Alliance, REL Central analyzed two years of data provided by state education agencies in Colorado, Missouri, and South Dakota to identify factors related to teacher mobility and attrition.

Compared with teachers who remained in their school, teachers who moved to different schools were more likely to:

  • Be special education teachers
  • Be younger
  • Have taught in their previous school for fewer years
  • Have previously been teaching in a school with a low accountability rating
  • Have previously been teaching in a school with a lower average teaching salary

In contrast, teachers who left the state public school system or took a nonteaching position were more likely than teachers who remained in their schools to:

  • Be older
  • Have been working less than half time
  • Have earned a lower salary
  • Have taught in their previous district for fewer years
  • Have previously been teaching in a school with a low accountability rating
  • Have previously been teaching in a school that paid a lower average teaching salary
  • Have previously been teaching in a school with a higher proportion of racial/ethnic minority students

Read the report at: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?prijectID=4635

About the report:

The report evaluates the trends in teacher demand, supply and shortages in Michigan and projected shortages and surpluses into the future.  Researchers reviewed personnel, certification, and substitute teacher permit data from the Michigan Department of Education, along with publicly available data, to learn more about teacher preparation and certification in the state.  State and district leaders may be able to use the findings to inform policy decisions and actions to address teacher shortages and ensure that all students have access to the teachers they need.  

Findings:

  • Between the 2013/14 and 2017/18 school years, the number of Michigan full-time equivalent teachers declined by 2 percent.  At the same time, the number of newly certified active teachers declined by 23 percent. 
  • The study projected that the Upper Peninsula and Northwestern regions of the state are projected to see teacher shortages in the coming years. 
  • Certain subject areas (particularly business education and career and technical education) are likely to see shortages.   

To learn more:

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