Recruitment & Retention
Staff shortages. Grow-your-own programs. Turnover. Learn more about recruiting and retaining teachers and other school and district staff
The State of Teaching, 2026 Edition
New national data on the teaching profession, vivid reporting from classrooms, and resources to help support this essential profession.
Staffing Our Schools
Special Report
Why Staffing Schools Is Harder Than Ever
Why schools are struggling to recruit and retain staff and how it affects student learning.
Special Report
Diversity Matters: How Schools Can Recruit and Retain More People of Color
See how school systems are successfully recruiting and retaining people of color and helping solve for public education's racial imbalance.
Special Report
Retaining Great Teachers in a Time of Turmoil
Through original data and reporting, this report illuminates the barriers to keeping great teachers and offers some solutions.
Recruitment & Retention AI Is Changing Teacher Hiring. Here鈥檚 HowTeachers may not be aware that AI underpins both commercial and DIY hiring systems, raising concerns.Recruitment & Retention Whitepaper Build a Community Where Teachers ThriveSponsorThis content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.Built for today鈥檚 school leaders, the ASU Prep Global Teacher Retention Playbook delivers proven, scalable strategies to attract, support...Recruitment & Retention Webinar K-12 Lens 2026: What New Staffing Data Reveals About District OperationsSponsorThis content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.Explore national survey findings and hear how districts are navigating staffing changes that affect daily operations, workload, and planning.
Recruitment & Retention: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ways to recruit good teachers?
The ways that teachers find school jobs has changed in recent years. But recruitment hasn鈥檛 gone all virtual. According to a 2022 EdWeek Research Center survey of job seekers, only 5 percent said they find out about K-12 jobs through virtual job fairs. Many more job seekers find jobs by looking at district websites (54 percent), word of mouth (47 percent), and education-focused job websites (42 percent).
Some districts are turning to decidedly non-digital recruitment methods, like highway billboards, flyers in grocery stores, and reaching out to parents to ask them to become substitute teachers.
Some districts are turning to decidedly non-digital recruitment methods, like highway billboards, flyers in grocery stores, and reaching out to parents to ask them to become substitute teachers.
What qualities do principals look for when hiring teachers?
Many principals place the most weight on how a teacher will fit in with their school鈥檚 culture. That attribute was more valued by principals than whether the teacher鈥檚 certification aligned with their school鈥檚 needs, according to a 2022 survey by RAND.
The number of years of teaching experience a teacher had ranked relatively low in principal鈥檚 desired teacher qualifications, with less than a quarter of principals saying it was in their top three.
The number of years of teaching experience a teacher had ranked relatively low in principal鈥檚 desired teacher qualifications, with less than a quarter of principals saying it was in their top three.
How can schools retain teachers?
Here is some advice on retaining teachers from Principal David Arencibia of Colleyville Middle School in Texas:
路 Be clear with teachers about job expectations.
路 Create a positive school culture.
路 Celebrate your staff.
路 Listen to your staff.
路 Be clear with teachers about job expectations.
路 Create a positive school culture.
路 Celebrate your staff.
路 Listen to your staff.
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Recruitment & Retention What the Research Says How U.S. Teachers' Job Satisfaction Stacks Up Against Their Global Peers'The largest international survey of teachers provides new insights into teacher satisfaction.
Recruitment & Retention Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Well Do You Know Today鈥檚 K-12 Hiring Landscape?Assess your knowledge of the key factors driving K-12 hiring today.
Recruitment & Retention Opinion How to Make Teachers Want to Stay at Your SchoolAn instructional coach shares five essential practices for teacher retention.
Recruitment & Retention Inside the Superintendent Hiring Process, and Where It Can Go WrongA superintendent鈥檚 arrest in Iowa exposed weaknesses in a district's vetting of its top leader.
Recruitment & Retention What the Research Says These Maps Reveal Gaps in Special Education, English-Learner Teacher SupplyLong-term teacher shortages for these growing populations demand new solutions to rebuild pipelines.
Recruitment & Retention Behind the Push to Exempt International Teachers from a New $100,000 Visa FeeLawmakers are pressing to exempt international teachers from a new $100,000 visa fee.
Recruitment & Retention From Our Research Center Federal Changes Have Some Educators Rethinking Whether to Stay in Their JobsA new survey shows potential spillover effects in school districts from a uniquely volatile federal policy environment.
Recruitment & Retention The United Nations Says Teacher Shortages Are a Global ProblemWorldwide, countries need to recruit another 44 million primary and secondary teachers by 2030 to meet demand, a new report finds.
Recruitment & Retention This District Is Betting on a $10K Signing Bonus for New Teachers. Is It Enough?Teachers are being awarded bonuses of up to $12,000 to join a district that, like its surrounding community, is working to rebuild.Recruitment & Retention Webinar Beyond the Hire: Building a Culture Where Teachers StaySponsorThis content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.Retention starts before day one. Learn how to build a culture that keeps great 糖心动漫vlog engaged & committed long-term.
Recruitment & Retention Professional Learning Guide Your Guide to Recruitment & RetentionCombat staffing shortages with actionable strategies and tips from this professional learning guide.
Recruitment & Retention What the Research Says 4-Day School Weeks May Have Diminishing Returns for Teacher RecruitmentLeaders need to consider wider teacher pools when deciding whether to adopt four-day weeks.
Recruitment & Retention Can Gen Z Be Enticed to Teach? Teach for America Thinks SoA poor labor market doesn't explain the growing interest in TFA, say its staff.
Recruitment & Retention Team Teaching Reduces Turnover Compared to Going Solo, New Research FindsTeachers who work together to set the educational tone and practice for their students are twice as likely to stay at their schools.
Recruitment & Retention One State鈥檚 Educator-Recruitment Campaign Has a Secret Weapon: Its Own TeachersGeorgia wants to change the public's view of teaching.
