Looking for resources on developing a high-quality, stable, and diverse teacher workforce? Browse this collection of reports, webinars, infographics, and more from across the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) network. The resources examine trends and strategies to reduce teacher attrition and improve teacher quality through preparation, recruitment, and retention.
Teacher preparation
- If you’re interested in best practices for teacher preparation and supporting new educators, check out this 30-minute documentary, produced by REL Midwest and Detroit Public Television.
- The above documentary was developed in partnership with the REL Midwest Alliance to Improve Teacher Preparation, which brings together key stakeholders in the region to study trends and outcomes in education preparation, with a focus on Michigan. Visit the webpage to learn more about the partnership’s projects, works in progress, and upcoming events.
- REL Northeast and Islands partnered with Boston Public Schools to enhance a mentoring program for beginning teachers through data coaching. Watch this video to learn more.
- The REL Southwest Teacher Preparation and Professional Development Research Partnership is dedicated to improving access to qualified teachers in Louisiana schools. Explore the webpage to learn about the partnership’s research and projects related to the Louisiana Believe and Prepare program, a statewide teacher residency initiative to bolster teacher retention and effectiveness.
Teacher recruitment and retention
- A new report from REL Midwest examines past and projected trends in teacher supply and demand in Michigan, including specific areas of focus to address projected shortages.
- REL Midwest’s Ask A REL reference desk rounded up recent research on precollegiate teacher recruitment, which targets high school students who may be interested in teaching.
- What makes an effective school leader? Find out in this REL Mid-Atlantic fact sheet, which describes the characteristics, behaviors, and skills of high-performing principals.
- REL Southwest identifies indicators of success for teacher recruitment and retention in this poster, which highlights key findings from a study examining the effects of teacher shortages in rural Oklahoma schools.
Teacher mobility and attrition
- Researchers at REL Midwest conducted a study on the movement of teachers and administrators to different schools in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Read the report to explore the findings and implications.
- Over a 4-year period, REL Appalachia researchers studied teachers and administrators in West Virginia through the lens of retention, attrition, and mobility across schools and districts. Check out the report to see what they found.
- A recent report from REL Central examines patterns of teacher retention, mobility, and attrition in four states in the region.
Grow Your Own strategies
- Research shows that students who learn from teachers of their own race/ethnicity may have higher achievement. Check out REL Central’s infographic to learn how Missouri is using a Grow Your Own approach to support a diverse teacher workforce.
- Then dive deeper into the topic with REL Central’s archived March 2019 webinar on diversifying and growing the teacher pipeline through Grow Your Own programming.
