Public Pre-K Teacher Turnover in Wisconsin (Poster 6)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Critical Issues in Early Childhood Education (San Diego)

Abstract

This paper found fact that PreK teachers are more likely to quit the job than K-3 teachers, around 20 percent more, even if their individual and school characteristics were the same and worked in the same schools. Based on the literature suggesting the challenges that PreK teachers face while working in academically oriented elementary schools, this paper empirically demonstrates that PreK teachers than K-3 teachers not only were much more likely to leave but also the gap was more salient in the high-achieving schools. Given that public PreK teachers and K-3 teachers have the same license certified by the Wisconsin state government, this paper discusses the meaning of the turnover rate gaps and possible ways to reduce the discrepancies.

Authors

• Hyunwoo Yang, University of Hong Kong

• Ju Lim, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Hyelin Park, University of Wisconsin - Madison