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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2003

News Release

Teacher Retention Key to Teacher Shortage Crisis

Quality Preparation, Early Support Are Keys to Keeping Good Teachers

Washington, D.C. - The National Education Association (NEA) today applauded the work of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. Its report, "No Dream Denied: A Pledge to America's Children," highlights the need for strong preparation programs and support systems to help sustain the continuity that is essential to school improvement.

"While some say watering down preparation programs and entry requirements will help address the teacher shortage, the evidence shows that high standards for teachers have huge benefits for the students who need help most," said NEA President Reg Weaver.

Among key findings of the Commission:

• The teacher shortage is a symptom of the teacher retention problem. One-third of new teachers leave the profession within three years and almost one-half leave within five years.

• Hardest hit are urban, rural, and minority communities, which frequently struggle with a revolving door of underqualified and underexperienced teachers.

"If we are going to hold students to high standards, we must also hold policymakers to high standards," Weaver said. "Licensure loopholes and crash course preparation take us farther and farther from our goal of making all public schools as good as the best public schools."

NEA and its affiliates have been deeply involved at the national, state and local levels in maintaining high standards for those entering the teaching profession. At the same time, NEA and its affiliates are working closely with policymakers to develop and support induction, mentoring, and peer assistance programs to help new teachers be successful during the first five years in the classroom - the most challenging years of teaching.

"We are not serving students well when we withhold from the teachers the preparation, respect, and compensation they deserve," Weaver said.

For the full report, visit www.nctaf.org

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.