Beginning Teacher Attrition in Texas by Route to Certification

• In Event: Revolving Doors? Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Abstract

Using data from Texas, we examine the percentage of beginning teachers by route to certification and teacher attrition rates by route to certification. In Texas, routes to certification include traditional university-based undergraduate, university-based graduate, emergency permits, out-of-state, and five types of alternative certification programs (ACPs). We find that the majority of beginning teachers are from ACPs and ACP teachers are disproportionately employed in schools with greater proportions of students living in poverty and students of color. Our hazard model results suggest that, after controlling for teacher- and school- characteristics, beginning teachers from ACPs have greater attrition rates as evidenced by short spells in teaching relative to teachers from traditional university-based undergraduate programs.

Authors

• Ed Fuller, The Pennsylvania State University

• Hajime Mitani, Rowan University

• Liz Hollingworth, University of Iowa