Examining State Plans to Improve Access to Effective Educators and New Opportunities Under the Every Student Succeeds Act

• In Event: 32.023 - School Leaders' Roles and Actions Toward Improvement

Abstract

This study examines and critiques 52 state plans to create more equitable access to effective educators. In particular, we focus on the degree to which states focus on reducing principal turnover and creating a more equitable distribution of principals as a means to reduce the primary cause of inequitable access to teachers—namely, teacher turnover. We find that few states identify principal turnover or inequitable distribution of well-qualified principals as root causes of teacher turnover, thus we conclude most states will have difficulty in reducing teacher turnover in high-need schools. We conclude by proposing policy solutions allowed under ESSA that will reduce principal turnover and improve the distribution of well-qualified principals as a means to increase access to effective educators.

Authors

• Ed Fuller, The Pennsylvania State University

• Liz Hollingworth, University of Iowa