The role of effective principals in reducing teacher turnover in disadvantaged schools

Abstract

Rates of turnover among public school teachers in the U.S. are substantial. Among all teachers, national estimates indicate that 16.5% of teachers left their schools between the 2003-04 and 2004-05 academic years, the most recent time period for which data are available. Fewer than half of entering first-year teachers will remain in the same school by the end of their fifth year. This paper discusses an analysis of national data to better understand the factors that influence public school teachers' satisfaction and turnover decisions.