Cost of Teacher Turnover Study

This study focuses on the nature and costs of teacher turnover in urban school systems. Teacher turnover has been identified as a major obstacle in staffing the nation's schools with qualified teachers. Not only does excessive turnover contribute to teacher shortages, but it also makes it more difficult to build teacher learning communities within schools. It makes it less likely that teachers and students will develop the kind of relationship envisioned by advocates of smaller schools. This research seeks to provide policymakers with hard information on the costs of teacher turnover using data from two urban districts: Milwaukee and Seattle.