Migration and Attrition of Public and Private School Teachers: 1991-1992

AUGUST 1995

NCES 95-770

During their professional lives, many people will change jobs within their chosen profession or even leave that profession altogether. When teachers move between schools, this is called migration and when they leave the teaching profession, this is called attrition. It is important to look at migration and attrition rates because they give an indication of teacher movement to and from the teaching profession so continuous and adequate staffing can be maintained throughout our nations schools.1 To study teacher migration and attrition, analyses were conducted using the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) Teacher Questionnaire and the 1991-92 Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS), which followed the SASS teachers one year later.

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS CHANGE SCHOOLS AND WHY?

Overall, 7.2 percent of all teachers moved to a different school within a year's time and just under 1.0 percent of all teachers (0.7 percent) shifted from public to private school or from private to public school (figure 1).

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Figure 1.--  Percentage of teachers in the 1990-91 school year who moved to
another school in a year's time and percentage of all teachers who changed
sectors.

Percent                                                          7.2 

Total percentage of all teachers who changed sectors             0.7

Percent        7.3                Public                         0.4

Percent        6.6                Private                        3.0

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Although the percentages of public and private school teachers who moved to other schools were about the same (7.3 and 6.6 percent, respectively), pri- vate school teachers were much more likely to move to public schools (3.0 percent) than public school teachers were to move to private schools (0.4 percent). In the same respect, 10.0 percent of all teachers who moved (movers) shifted from public to private school or from private to public school. By sector, 46.0 percent of private school movers shifted to the public sector and 5.5 percent of the public school movers shifted to the private sector.

Among the reasons provided in the survey for teachers changing schools, the most frequent response for public school teachers was a school staffing action (41.7 percent) such as reduction-in-force, lay-off, school closing, school reorganization, or reassignment (table 1). However, private school teachers cited family or personal move (32.7 percent) and better salary or benefits (28.4 percent) as their main reasons for changing schools. Of the private school teachers who changed schools to receive better salary or benefits, 75.3 percent moved to the public sector. Better salary or benefits was one of the least cited reasons for changing schools among public school teachers (4.4 percent).

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Table 1.--Migration rates from the teaching profession, by years of teaching 
experience, and percent distribution of reasons for leaving, by sector
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Characteristics                           Public                Private
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TOTAL                                       7.3                   6.6

3 years or less                            14.1                   8.7

4 to 9 years                                9.9                   8.1

10 to 19 years                              6.5                   5.3

20 to 24 years                              3.3                   3.0

25 years or more                            3.1                   2.4


REASONS FOR LEAVING PREVIOUS SCHOOL       100.0                 100.0

School staffing action                     41.7                  17.3

Family or personal move                    26.3                  32.7

For a better teaching assignment           17.7                  12.7 

Dissatisfied with the previous school       9.9                   9.0 

For better salary or benefits               4.4                  28.4*
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* 73.3 percent of these teachers moved to the public sector.

NOTE:  Data may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

SOURCE:  U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education 
Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey, 1990-91 and Teacher Follow-up 
Survey, 1991-92.
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In the public sector, teachers with 3 years or less of experience had the highest migration rate (14.1 percent) and in the private sector, teachers with 3 years or less of experience (8.7 percent) and 4 to 9 years experience (8.1 percent) had the highest migration rates (table 1). Public school teachers, however, had a higher migration rate than private school teachers with 3 years or less experience (14.1 and 8.7 percent, respectively). The remaining migration rates comparing public to private school teachers in the total years of experience category, are not statistically different.

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION AND WHAT ARE THEIR REASONS FOR LEAVING?

Overall, the attrition rate between school years 1990-91 and 1991-92 for all teachers was 6.0 percent (figure 2). However, during that period, the attri- tion rate of private school teachers was more than twice that of public school teachers (12.3 percent compared to 5.1 percent).

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Figure 2--Percentage of teachers in 1990-91 school year who left teaching
in 1991-92
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Percent  - 6.0 Total           5.1 - Public       12.3 - private

SOURCE:  U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey, 1990-91 and Teacher Follow-up
Survey, 1991-92.
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The main reasons most public and private school teachers gave for leaving were unrelated to teaching issues. The two main reasons public school teachers reported for leaving teaching were to retire (30.4 percent) and because of a family or personal move, or health, or pregnancy/child rearing (30.3 percent) (table 2). Private school teachers cited family or personal move, or health, or pregnancy/child rearing (41.6 percent) as their main reason for leaving.

HOW MUCH TEACHING EXPERIENCE DO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS HAVE BEFORE LEAVING THE PROFESSION?

The highest attrition rates for public school teachers occurred among teachers with 25 years or more of experience (11.0 percent), while the highest rate for private school teachers occurred among teachers with 3 years or less of experience (19.2 percent) (table 2). Private school teachers with 3 years or less of experience left at a higher rate (19.2 percent) than public school teachers with 3 years or less (7.8 percent). Similarly, private school teachers had higher attrition rates than public school teachers in both the 4 to 9 years experience category (12.7 and 5.3 percent, respectively) and the 10 to 19 years of experience category (6.2 and 2.4 percent, respectively). Despite the public and private school differences, within each sector the attrition rates tend to be highest at the beginning of a teachers career (0-9 years experience) and towards the end of a teachers career (25 years or more experience).

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Table 2.--Attrition rates from the teaching profession, by years of teaching 
experience, and percent distribution of reasons for leaving, by sector 
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Characteristics                                 Public            Private  
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TOTAL YEARS OF EXPERIENCE                        5.1               12.3

3 years or less                                  7.8               19.2

4 to 9 years                                     5.3               12.7

10 to 19 years                                   2.4                6.2

20 to 24 years                                   3.4                4.7

25 years or more                                11.0               14.6


REASONS FOR LEAVING                            100.0              100.0

To retire                                       30.4                8.1

Family or personal move, or health, or  
 pregnancy/child rearing                        30.3               41.6
 
To take courses/sabbatical                      19.7               22.3 

Dissatisfied with teaching as a career           8.3                4.9

To pursue another career outside of            
  education                                      7.8               15.9

For better salary or benefits                    3.6                7.2
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NOTE:  Data may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

SOURCE:  U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education 
Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey, 1990-91 and Teacher Follow-up 
Survey, 1991-92.
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Very few teachers change schools or leave the profession because they are dissatisfied with their previous school or with teaching in general. Both public and private school teachers leave teaching for personal reasons whereas the reasons why teachers change schools are more varied. The rate of migration for teachers is higher earlier in their careers and decreases as they obtain more experience. For attrition, more teachers tend to leave the profession within the first 9 years of their career; fewer teachers leave during mid-career and the rate increases as teachers approach retirement.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE THE FOLLOWING REPORTS:

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Schools and Staffing in the United States: A Statistical Profile, 1990-91 (NCES 93-146).

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Characteristics of Stayers, Movers, and Leavers: Results from the Teacher Follow-up Survey: 1991-92 (NCES 94-337).

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey: Sample Design and Estimation (NCES 93-449).

ISSUE BRIEFS present information on education topics of current interest. All estimates shown are based on samples and are subject to sampling varia- bility. All differences reported are statistically significant at the .05 level. In the design, conduct, and data processing of NCES surveys, efforts are made to minimize the effects of nonsampling errors, such as item nonre- sponse, measurement error, data processing error, or other systematic error.

This ISSUE BRIEF was prepared by Carol L. Rohr and Hilda F. Lynch of Pinkerton Computer Consultants, Inc. To obtain standard errors or definitions of terms for this Issue Brief, or to obtain additional informa- tion about the Schools and Staffing Survey or the Teacher Follow-up Survey, contact the SASS staff

1. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Teacher Supply, Teacher Turnover, and Teacher Qualifications: 1990-91 (NCES 95-744).