Teacher tenure

Abstract

Debates over the efficacy of tenure are longstanding but tenure reform is now more prominent in the public eye given recent high-profile legislative battles in states like Ohio and Wisconsin. This focus on tenure also is a natural outgrowth of the large body of research showing that differences between individual teachers can have profound effects on student achievement. Some of the rhetoric in these debates centered on the systems’ inability to fire ineffective tenured teachers. Some contend that the high costs associated with the teacher dismissal process are tantamount to a guarantee that teachers won’t be fired for poor performance. Yet there are counterarguments that weakening tenure will lead to a lower quality teacher workforce. Similarly, others argue that the recent drop in individuals choosing to pursue a career in teaching is related to what’s being called the war against teachers, with tenure reform representing one front in that war (Goldstein, 2014). Our opinion is that direct empirical evidence fails to support the claim that the current wave of reforms affect the teacher labor market or student achievement.

The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Employment in Education and Healthcare: A Systematic Literature Review

“…A total of 11 studies could not be distinctly grouped into one of the preceding categories and will therefore be summarized individually. Retrieved studies addressing teacher turnover cover various types of schools (Barrett et al, 2022;Hensvik, 2012;Roch & Montague, 2021), the extension of the probationary period (Goldhaber et al, 2016), a strategy for alternative teacher preparation (Curran, 2017;Hansen et al, 2016), and recruitment and retention initiatives (Guffey & Young, 2020). In the healthcare context, we retrieved isolated studies on a parental leave program (Friedrich & Hackmann, 2021), staffing requirements (Chen & Grabowski, 2015;Han et al, 2021), and insurance reimbursement policies (He et al, 2020).…”

“…Tenure, as well as its timing, determine the attractiveness of a teaching career. Goldhaber et al (2016) investigate a policy change in North Carolina and Washington…”