Abstract

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Framework was utilized to examine the complexity of the teacher turnover problem in regard to structural inequalities within education that need to be dismantled to create equitable outcomes for all students. Hierarchical cluster analysis was implemented to investigate school report card data of elementary schools in a rural school district ( n = 18) and an urban school district ( n = 41) in geographical proximity in the southeastern United States. Clusters were formed using school level variables including the breakdown of student race/ethnicity, percentage of economically disadvantaged students, teacher turnover rates, years of teaching experience, and a school performance measure. Four clusters emerged from the analysis. Across all variables there were significant differences found between clusters ( p < .001) in the school performance measure, teacher turnover rates, student race/ethnicity, and percentage of students receiving free/reduced price lunch. The percentage of teachers with between 4 and 10 years of experience was statistically equivalent across all cluster groups, differences were found in the number of initially licensed teachers (a low of 9.9% in Cluster 2 to a high of 27.0% in Cluster 4) and teachers with 10 or more years experience (ranging from 46.5% in Cluster 4 to 62.2% in Cluster 2).

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.