The Growing Need for Beginning Teacher Induction

The Growing Need for Beginning Teacher Induction

Richard M. IngersollProfessor of Education and Sociology

University of Pennsylvania and

Consortium for Policy Research in Education

Conducted by the Census Bureau for the U.S. Department of Education

7 Cycles: 1987-1989, 1990-1992, 1993-1995, 1999-2001, 2003-2005, 2007-08, 2011-12

The largest source of information available on teachers:

-Sample: 50,000 teachers 12,000 schools

-Representing all 50 states

The Schools and Staffing Survey with the Teacher Follow-up Survey

The Source of Data

Number of Elementary and Secondary School Teachers and Students, 1987-88 to 2011-12

Teaching Experience of K-12 Teachers, 1987-88

Teaching Experience of K-12 Teachers, 1987-88, and 2007-08

Teaching Experience of K-12 Teachers, 1987-88, 2007-08, and 2011-12

Cumulative Percent Attrition of Beginning Teachers, by Years of Experience: 1993-2003

(years 3,4 and 5 are underestimates because early attrition of some late entrants could not be included)

41.3

36.8

28.4

23

11.9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Less than 5 years

Less than 4 years

Less than 3 years

Less than 2 years

Less than 1 year

PercentSource: Perda, D. 2013. Transitions Into and Out of Teaching: A Longitudinal Analysis of Early Career Teacher Turnover. PhD Dissertation, University of Pennsylvania.

13.1

11.9

11.1

10.5

9.8

0 10 20 30

2008-09

2004-05

1994-95

1991-92

1988-89

Percent

Trends in Percent 1st-Year Teacher Attrition

Percent 1st-Yr. School Teachers Reporting that Various Reasons Were Important for their Attrition, 2008-09

Percent

Trends in the Percent of 1st Year Teachers Participating in Induction or Mentor Programs

8291

85

51 52

79

0

20

40

60

80

100

1990-91 1993-94 1999-00 2003-04 2007-08 2011-12

Per

cent

Percent 1st-Year Teachers Who Received

Various Induction Supports (2007-08)

17

31

58

71

81

87

0 20 40 60 80 100

Reduced Course Load

Teacher aide

Collaboration w Colleagues

Beginners' seminars

Mentor

Face-time with Admin.

Percent

Percent Turnover After First Year of Beginning Teachers, According to Amount of Induction

Support They Received

0 10 20 30 40 50

PercentMovers Leavers

18

27

39

41No Induction

Basic

Basic & Collaboration

Basic & Collaboration & Extra Resources

Source: Smith & Ingersoll. 2004. “What are the Effects of Induction and Mentoring on Beginning Teacher Turnover?" American Educational Research Journal. Vol. 41, No. 3, 681-714.

Mentor from the same field.

Common planning time with teachers in the same subject or regularly scheduled collaboration with other teachers on instruction.

Induction Supports Most Effective in Reducing Turnover

Review of Research on Effects of Induction

We examined 15 best empirical studies, since the 1980s

three sets of outcomes: teacher commitment and retention teacher classroom instructional practices student achievement

Most of the studies reviewed showed positive impacts

Source: Ingersoll & Strong. 2011. "The Impact of Induction and Mentoring for Beginning Teachers: A Critical Review of the Research.” Review of Educational Research. 81(2) 201-233 .

For Further Information, Copies of Articles, Reports, etc.:

www.gse.upenn.edu/faculty/ingersoll