The Impacts of No Child Left Behind School Accountability on Teacher Turnover

• In Event: Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Teachers and Accountability

Abstract

This study examines the NCLB impact on teacher turnover. Drawing five waves of data on nationally representative samples from the SASS and their TFS surveys from 1990-91 to 2008-09, and using difference-in-difference models, we find that NCLB school accountability increased the average teacher mobility rate—the likelihood of teachers’ moving to other schools but still being teachers, particularly increased the involuntary mobility rate. However, it reduced the average attrition rate—the likelihood of teachers’ leaving teaching profession, particularly reduced the involuntary attrition rate. This general trend is magnified in poor schools. Findings imply that the NCLB school accountability increased the selection of teachers within public educational system, rather than selecting ineffective teachers out of the teaching profession.

Authors

• Min Sun, University of Washington - Seattle

• Yincheng Ye, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Ryan Brock Mutcheson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University