The 2023–24 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS)

NCES is currently collecting information from schools, teachers, and principals by asking sampled participants to respond to the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS). We value your responses and want to hear your opinions and learn from your experiences. But we need your help to make this data collection a success.

What is the purpose of the NTPS?

The purpose of the NTPS is to provide policymakers and researchers with relevant and timely data on the characteristics and conditions of America's public, charter, and private K–12 schools and the professionals who staff them, all directly from the perspective of the principals and teachers themselves. The data collected permit detailed analyses of the characteristics of schools, principals, and teachers at the national, state, and affiliation level and are critical for policymakers who set funding and other priorities, including the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, state education agencies, and public school districts. Click on any of the icons below to view selected findings from the 2020–21 NTPS or click here for these and other spotlighted statistics.

On average, what is the percentage of time principals spent on various school-related tasks such as parent or student interactions during the school year?
Do traditional public, public charter, or private school principals have more average years of experience?		What is the racial/ethnic distribution of teachers in the U.S.?

The NTPS has been designed with input from state and local education agencies, school administrators, teachers, education policymakers, and researchers through the numerous organizations representing these various data providers and data users.

How long does it take to complete a NTPS questionnaire?

While the surveys will vary in length, each questionnaire will take approximately 15 to 40 minutes to complete. If necessary, you may save your responses and return to the survey later.

Why is my participation important?

We need your help to learn more about teachers and principals' experiences in classrooms and schools.

This survey is a primary source of information about what is happening in K–12 schools across the United States from the experiences and perspective of administrators and teachers. This intentionally gives principals and teachers a voice in federal education policy.

When we select principals and teachers for the NTPS, we do so to hear from as many diverse voices in as many representative groups as we can. Teachers and principals who participate in the NTPS are grouped in different ways, such as by age or race and ethnicity or the type of school they work at, and their information is studied to identify patterns of experiences that people in these different groups may have had. Only a small percentage of school, teachers, and principals are selected to participate, which means every principal and teacher represents themselves and many colleagues just like them. No one else can be substituted for you; therefore, you are important for the success of this survey.

How are the NTPS data used?

The data from the NTPS are used by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, state education agencies, public school districts, and education research organizations to:

1. Evaluate the effects of school workplace conditions, salaries, and training opportunities on the educational workforce;
2. Assess school staffing practices and personnel policies; and
3. Aid in the Department of Education's program planning in the areas of teacher shortage, teaching policies, and teacher education.

The data are then used to inform federal education policies, grant opportunities, and budgeting decisions.

Will my data remain confidential?

Yes, both the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Census Bureau follow strict procedures to protect the confidentiality of study participants. Your responses to the survey questions will not be shared with your school administration.

---

---

Top

---

Top

Top