A recently published meta-analysis of 120 studies about the predictors of teacher turnover confirms the influence of teachers’ personal background and school working conditions.
- Teachers over 28 years old (odds ratio, OR = +0.70), Hispanic teachers (OR = +0.47), and traditional in certified teachers (OR = +0.53) are all less likely to leave.
- Teachers at schools with evaluation or merit pay systems (OR = +0.95, +0.78) or better working environments (OR = +0.56) are also less likely to leave.
To prior reviews and frameworks of teacher turnover, this study adds a look at accountability and policy impacts (e.g., merit pay). Additionally, its findings imply changes in the labor market from prior reviews – such as the now null impact of teacher gender, Black race/ethnicity, and advanced degree, and school demographic makeup.
Notable limitations, as acknowledged by the authors, include the limited number of studies of certain predictors (e.g. 1 study about retention bonuses) and the limited causal evidence in the studies under review.