Teacher Retention, Mobility, and Attrition in Four States

A new report from Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Central examines rural and nonrural teacher movement within and out of public school systems in Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. REL Central conducted the study in partnership with their Educator Pipeline Research Alliance, whose members are concerned about teacher shortages, particularly in rural settings. The study found that during the 2015/16 and 2016/17 school years: 82 percent of teachers in the four states remained in a classroom teaching position in the same school (stayers), 8 percent transferred to a classroom teaching position in a different school or district (movers), and 10 percent took a nonteaching position or left their public school system (leavers). The proportion of stayers was similar in rural schools and nonrural schools. Most stayers (98 percent) remained in the same grade-level assignment. About half of movers transferred to a school in the same district, and half moved to a school in a different district. The proportions of stayers, movers, and leavers varied substantially across districts within states. The proportions of stayers, movers, and leavers in these states were similar to national statistics. The variation found across districts within states also echoes national trends, and suggests that state education agencies may wish to continue to monitor teacher retention, mobility, and attrition at both the state and local levels in order to identify districts with a more pronounced need for teachers.