A new report from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) found that nearly 40% of new teachers leave their career, or the state, after six years in the profession, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The news comes as Wisconsin continues to battle a teacher shortage.
The report — which uses data collected during the 2021–22 school year and responses from a voluntary survey conducted last fall — further found that only about two-thirds of aspiring educators who complete some form of preparation program and meet licensure requirements were ultimately employed in a public school in the state. Around 37% of Wisconsin school districts responded to the survey.
Top reasons cited for leaving the field included personal reasons, compensation, work-life balance, pursuit of another profession, and workload. Interestingly, data shows that more students in Wisconsin are enrolling in educator preparation programs than in surrounding states.
The DPI report includes strategies for increasing statewide teacher retention, including peer mentoring, apprenticeship programs, and “grow your own” programs designed to recruit and train future teachers from within communities.
In the meantime, Wisconsin educators’ compensation has decreased substantially over the past 12 years, adjusting for 2022 dollars. The median compensation package, combining salaries and other benefits, has decreased by nearly 20%.
