Principal Retention Patterns

The departure of an effective school leader can influence staff turnover and student achievement for several years. REL West undertook this study to help leaders in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah better understand principal retention patterns in their state. The study found that— Fewer than half of the principals in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah remained at the same school from fall 2016 to fall 2020. Principals who changed jobs (but stayed in the principalship) tended to move to a new school within the same local education agency rather than to a new school in another local education agency. Retention did not change significantly during the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic; the principal retention rate from fall 2019 to fall 2020 was consistent with that in the previous year. Fewer principals tended to remain at schools with lower performance on standardized tests than at higher-performing schools over time. Several longer-term retention patterns differed across the three states based on school locale and student demographics. For example, Arizona and Nevada had lower four-year retention rates in schools in town and rural areas, while Utah had lower retention rates in city and suburban areas. These findings suggest that state and local education leaders in these states will continue to grapple with longstanding staffing challenges. The study results can help leaders in each state direct resources and supports to where they are most needed. Such evidence-based targeted retention strategies could include expanding professional learning opportunities, improving working conditions, and rethinking decision-making authority.