Burlingame—California Teachers Association President Barbara E. Kerr issued the following statement today on the release of the Center for Teacher Quality’s study on teacher retention in California.
“Today’s study release confirms much of what CTA has been saying for a long time: California is facing a serious teacher shortage and it will take substantial improvements in teaching and learning conditions as well as adequate levels of school funding if we are to successfully address this problem.
“The study’s analysis of why so many teachers leave the profession before retirement and its recommendations show it is vitally important that our elected leaders understand why we’re losing quality classroom teachers and that they begin working on solutions now.
“For too long now, far too many teachers have tried to do their job without sufficient instructional materials and in an unsupportive environment that stifles creativity and emphasizes test scores over a positive climate for teaching and learning. Teachers enter the classroom to make a real difference, and if we want to keep quality educators in every classroom, we need to give them the support and resources they need to improve student learning.”
The study calls for ongoing assessments of the teaching climate in every school so teachers have meaningful input in the decision-making process, adequate student funding for all schools, safe and clean working environments, and time in the school day for teachers to collaborate with colleagues.