Boosting Staff Retention

07/12/2004

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go." - William Feather

BOOSTING STAFF RETENTION

In a recent Exchange Insta-Poll, ExchangeEveryDay readers rated "staff shortages" as the most significant challenge confronting early childhood programs. This challenge underscores the importance of retaining those teachers currently on board. A new report released by the Alliance for Excellent Education, "Tapping the Potential: Retaining and Developing High Quality Teachers" (http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0242), points to the critical importance of early induction programs in boosting staff retention. Although this report focuses on public schools, the implications for early childhood programs are clear.

According to the report, while one out of every two new teachers will quit within five years, this attrition rate can be cut in half with comprehensive induction programs. In addition, such programs develop new teachers more rapidly into highly skilled professionals. Well planned induction has been shown "to create a payoff of $1.37 for every one dollar invested." The report defines comprehensive induction as including "high-quality mentoring, common planning time, ongoing professional development, an external network, and standards-based evaluation."

"Placing new teachers in the most challenging classrooms without comprehensive induction and then asking them to perform like experienced teachers is like putting newly licensed drivers in a NASCAR race," concludes Alliance president Susan Frost.

To facilitate directors in providing teachers with meaningful on-the-job training, Exchange has developed "Out of the Box Training Kits." The online versions of these kits are now on sale, for this week only, at a 20% discount. To check them out, go to:

http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0243

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.