Statements from Education Leaders in Support of NCTAF's Cost of Teacher Turnover Study

Reg Weaver, President

National Education Association (NEA)

The National Education Association applauds the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future for once again taking the lead in advancing the cause of teacher quality. The High Cost of Teacher Turnover paints a clear and compelling picture of the financial burden facing too many of our schools. This report provides important evidence that supports what NEA members know and have long advocated: that a talented, prepared, respected, and stable teacher workforce is essential for ensuring a great public school for every student.

A revolving door teaching profession is not good for teachers, schools, or communities, and is certainly not good for students. We urge policymakers to pay attention to the report’s clear evidence that “Low performing schools pay the highest price” for high teacher turnover. The financial implications are staggering. More important, the implications for America’s poorest public schools and the children they serve are disastrous and should be considered a national disgrace.

We join NCTAF in calling on federal, state, and local action to support teacher induction, to measure teacher turnover and its costs, and to invest in improved management systems. We further urge policymakers, community members, teachers, and others to advance other proven strategies for increasing teacher retention and promoting high quality teaching:

• Hire qualified, competent, and fully-licensed teachers. The evidence is clear that teachers who enter unprepared or under-prepared for the challenges of the profession leave at much higher rates.
• Improve working conditions, particularly in high-need schools. Skilled and supportive principals, adequate class-size, and time for planning and collaboration are absolutely essential to keeping talented teachers.
• Pay teachers what they deserve. We will never retain talented and capable teachers if the profession continues to pay significantly less than professions requiring comparable skill, knowledge, and education. Pay schemes that provide token compensation to some teachers based on a test score do not begin to address the problem. NEA has called for every new teacher in America to make at least $40,000 in starting salary.