State Teachers Leaving Profession at High Rate

One of every seven general education teachers in Wisconsin left the profession in 2000-01, according to a new report by University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Associate Education Professor Tom Fischer.

Although the study did not pinpoint the reasons for the highest teacher attrition rate in the 12 years reviewed by the study, Fischer told OnWEAC he believes factors include the lack of a fair collective bargaining law for teachers and the resulting lack of adequate pay raises, the impact of school district revenue controls, lack of respect for the profession, and increasing demands on teachers.

“My general sense of teachers in the state ... is that they are demoralized,” Fischer said. That analysis, he said, is based on his experience in supervising field placements of teachers and from being married to a teacher.

The study found that 14.4% of general educators left the field in 2000-01, a figure Fischer termed a “startling jump” from 8.2% the year before. From 1989-90 through 2000-01, the average annual attrition rate for regular educators was 7.9%, according to the study. In addition to simply quitting the profession, the attrition figure includes teachers who leave their jobs for other positions and teachers who retire.

For special education teachers, the attrition rate was 12.27% in 2000-01, compared to an average of 10.36% over 12 years.

Fischer contracted with the Department of Public Instruction to conduct the study, titled "Supply and Demand of Educational Personnel" for Wisconsin Public Schools 2002. It is available on the Internet.

Other studies have shown that, nationally, one-third of new teachers leave the profession within five years and that 40% to 50% of new teachers leave the profession within the first seven years.

Other findings of Fischer’s study include:

• The number of program completers from Wisconsin teacher training institutions decreased by 2.7% from 1999-00 to 2000-01. Program completers in elementary education decreased 10.5%, secondary and specialized field program completers increased 4.0%, and special education program completers decreased 1.1%.
• School district ratings of supply indicated a slight shortage of teachers overall. Fields with greater shortages were deaf/hearing impairment, visual impairment, agriculture, cross-categorical special education, English as a Second Language/bilingual, emotional behavioral disability, reading specialist, technology education, library/media, family and consumer education, cognitive disabilities, and physical/occupational therapy.

Posted January 24, 2002