North Carolina's teacher attrition rates have seen a slight decline in the 2023-24 school year, according to the recent State of the Teaching Profession report. The attrition rate dropped to 9.88%, a decrease from 11.5% in the previous year. Despite the downward trend, the rate still rests above the seven-year average of 8.64%, signaling a persistent issue in teacher retention.
The report, mandated by the North Carolina General Assembly and presented to the North Carolina State Board of Education, sheds light on the movement within public school districts. Of note, over 90% of the state's principals remained in their positions from March 2023 to March 2024, reflecting a modicum of stability at the administrative level. North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice "Mo" Green, highlighted the need to "do a much better job of keeping them in the classroom once they are hired," as reported by the Department of Public Instruction.
To address the attrition phenomenon, the superintendent's legislative agenda includes proposals for higher teacher compensation and expansion of the Advanced Teaching Roles Program. The attrition was notably high among educators in the early and later stages of their careers, with rates fluctuating between 11.7-17.5% for teachers with 0-5 years of experience, and between 18.5-26.8% for those with 28 or more years in the field. Simultaneously, alternative licensure routes for new teachers have seen a decrease, though they still represent nearly half of all new educators in the state.
Moreover, the vacancy rate under a broadened definition now stands at 8.2%, compared to 6.4% the previous year. Dr. Tom Tomberlin of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction warned that most positions considered "vacant" are filled by educators holding temporary licenses or by rehired retirees. Without these, the vacancy rate would plummet to 1.9%. "Our school and district leaders do a great job of trying to make sure all student needs are met with the staff members and resources they have," Tomberlin told the Department of Public Instruction.
For the first time, data on principal movement is included in the report following new legislation. The attrition rate for principals was 7.45% at the end of the 2022-23 school year, and notably, those who remained in employment nearly all continued in principal roles or advanced to district-level positions. Indeed, more than two-thirds of principals at low-performing schools stayed, reflecting perhaps a commitment to educational leadership in challenging environments.
