Report 1 - Supporting Teaching Effectiveness: The View From Gen Y

Retaining Teacher Talent

Report 1. The View From Generation Y

Forward-looking leaders in states and districts will find in this report cutting-edge ideas on how to build a world-class teacher corps by understanding what attracts and dissuades Gen Y teachers from the profession.

Two overarching themes emerge:

Teachers’ views on the best ways to structure teacher compensation are evolving.
Teachers’ views on the conditions under which they work are influenced by their generation and experiences.

However, in both cases, there is strong evidence of a confluence and constancy of teacher views that spans the generations. The six key findings described in this report all point to the fact that supporting teacher effectiveness will likely have a profound impact on teacher retention.

Multi-media resources including a video chronicle and facilitator’s guide and presentations at national teacher quality conferences are presented with the report to aid those leading reforms at the district, state, and national levels.

Introduction

Finding 1: Gen Y teachers are more open to rewarding teachers differentially for their performance and responsibilities in the classroom than earlier generations; however, they are skeptical about using their students’ standardized test scores to measure such performance.

Policy Recommendations

Finding 2: Paying for performance is seen as the least important policy option for improving teacher effectiveness and retention; having meaningful learning opportunities, reducing class size, increasing parental involvement, and raising salaries across the board still rank higher.

View Gen Y Introductory Video:
Who Are Our Gen Y Teachers?

Report 1 - Printable Version (PDF)

Practical Scenario

State Senator Mallman is leading a state taskforce on teacher quality. The Governor is a champion for education and wants to see that excellent teachers are available for every child in the state. At the same time, rising teacher retirement rates and looming shortages are creating an urgent need for policy action to recruit and retain more high-quality teachers. Senator Mallman knows that current attrition rates among new teachers are not promising. What steps should she and the task force consider to make teaching a highly attractive career option for young people today? How do Gen Y teachers' workplace needs differ from those of their colleagues?

Read Report 1. The View From Generation Y to gain insight about attracting and retaining Gen Y teachers.

Policy Recommendations

Finding 3: Many teachers view removing ineffective colleagues from the classroom as a way to boost teacher effectiveness and think that unions sometimes protect ineffective teachers, yet they feel it important to preserve tenure protections.

Policy Recommendations

Finding 4: Gen Y teachers tend to desire sustained, constructive, and individualized feedback from principals to help them become more effective in the classroom.

Policy Recommendations

Finding 5: All teachers desire meaningful collaboration with their colleagues—not just younger ones.

Policy Recommendations

Finding 6: Most Gen Y teachers believe they will stay in education, if not the classroom, for the long haul.

Policy Recommendations

Conclusion

References

Survey Results by Age

PowerPoint Version (PDF)

Printable Version (PDF)

Panel Discussion Video

Gen Y Video Insights and Facilitator's Guide