Staying or Leaving? Teacher Turnover and Retention After Adoption of Head Start 2024 Compensation Policy

• In Event: AERA Research in Progress Roundtable Session One
  In Invited Roundtable: Research-in-Progress RT049 (Wednesday)

Abstract

High Teacher Turnover Rates (TTR) significantly impact Early Childhood Education (ECE) by decreasing instructional quality, especially in under-resourced communities. Teachers cite low salaries and insufficient benefits as key reasons for leaving. The Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), updated in 2024, implemented changes related to salaries, benefits, and staff well-being. This research investigates how the 2024 HSPPS changes are reflected in Head Start (HS) teachers’ compensation and TTR by addressing how compensation affects departure decisions and turnover differs across states. This study adopts a multilevel modeling approach by utilizing secondary data from the HS Program Information Report. Examining these policy effectiveness later informs policy improvements in teacher compensation that can reduce turnover in HS and potentially influence broader ECE systems.

Author

• Boyun Kim, Oakland University