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Published:
November 2018
Authors:
Amber Ravenell
Jason A. Grissom
Brendan Bartanen
Key Findings
- Black teachers, particularly Black male teachers, are more likely to leave their schools than White teachers. However, they generally move to different schools within the same district rather than leave the profession altogether.
- Turnover is higher among Black teachers in part because they are more likely to work in schools where turnover is higher among all teachers, including schools with more concentrated student poverty and lower average student achievement.
- Turnover among Black teachers is especially high when they are racially isolated. Black teachers turn over at higher rates when they have few Black teachers as colleagues.
- Black principals retain Black teachers at higher rates.
Methods
This analysis uses Tennessee data from the 2011-2012 to 2015-2016 school years. The information includes personal and professional characteristics as well as school and district characteristics. Teacher turnover is identified by comparing teachers' work information in that year to his or her work information in the following year. Teachers who do not return are labeled as turning over. Using a statistical technique called regression analysis, researchers predict the likelihood that a teacher will leave his or her school. This allows for a comparison of otherwise-similar Black and White teachers.
