Teacher Attrition in Arizona's Traditional Public Schools and Charter Schools: Explaining the Difference

• In Event: 28.061 - Charter School Policies and Their Impact on Stakeholders

Abstract

In this study we evaluate the factors associated with the differences in attrition between charter and traditional public schools (TPS) teachers. The exit rate among charter school teachers is 30 percent higher than the exit rate for teachers in TPS. Our findings suggest that the higher attrition rate among charter school teachers is partially attributable to the lower experience of charter school teachers compared to TPS teachers. Less experienced teachers are more likely to leave the teacher labor force in the first years of employment than their more experienced peers regardless of school type. Among the main factors that explain attrition are teacher demographic and professional characteristics such as race and experience.

Authors

• Margarita Pivovarova, Arizona State University

• Jeanne M. Powers, Arizona State University