This guide provides tools for advancing a stable and diverse teaching profession and ensuring that every student in every school is taught by a fully prepared teacher. It builds on decades of research into effective practices for recruiting, preparing, supporting, and retaining teachers; provides examples of local and state-level policies and initiatives; and includes model legislation and other helpful resources.

Chapter 1: Recruiting Strategies that Work in the Teacher Profession Playbook focuses on high-leverage recruitment strategies, but they must be paired with a thoughtful approach to retention.

Chapter 2: High-Retention and Culturally Responsive Pathways in the Teaching Profession Playbook shows how robust, culturally responsive preparation before they enter the classroom makes new teachers more likely to stay in their role and improves student learning in critical areas such as math and reading.

Keeping more teachers in the profession—and reducing year-to-year teacher turnover in schools—is also key to creating thriving schools and providing students with the school environment and learning opportunities that are essential to their social-emotional well-being and academic success.

Teachers consistently rate the quality of administrative support as more important than salaries in their decision to leave or continue teaching in a particular school. Other key factors in teachers’ professional decisions include school culture and collegial relationships, time for collaboration, and decision-making input—all areas in which the principal plays a central role.

A competitive and living wage provides teachers with the greatest flexibility—enabling them to work one job and get paid fairly for it.

This chapter provides sample messages, statistics, and frequently asked questions to bolster your effort to advance policies and practices that solve shortages and support a strong and diverse teaching profession. Adapt them as necessary to fit your circumstances and always speak in your own authentic voice, using local examples for maximum impact.

This section includes examples from states with legislation informing service scholarships and loan forgiveness; teacher residencies; and mentoring and induction programs.