Building and Retaining the Teacher Workforce

Nationally, every year, approximately 1 in 6 public school teachers leaves their school or the profession altogether. At the same time, an estimated 400,000-plus teaching positions are either unfilled or filled by teachers who are not fully certified. However, the story varies greatly across and within states and is influenced by state policies that directly impact teaching conditions. Some states have made great strides in attracting and retaining well-qualified teachers. Likewise, some states are more successful than others at providing students with equitable access to certified and experienced teachers, especially students of color and students in low-income households. Where does your state stand, and what can you learn from other states’ policy successes? Listen to this learning session for insights on strategies for investing in policies that better prepare, attract, support, and retain a high-quality teacher workforce.

LPI and partners developed this webinar series to give policymakers and others a leg up on the 2025 legislative session with the most up-to-date research, tools, and examples of effective, evidence-based state policy approaches.

Speakers

• Linda Darling-Hammond, President and CEO, Learning Policy Institute
• Susan Kemper Patrick, Senior Researcher, Learning Policy Institute
• Melanie Leung-Gagné, Researcher, Learning Policy Institute
• Kent McCarty, State Representative, Mississippi House of Representatives
• William P. Murphy, Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education, NYS Education Department
• Alexander Trikalinos, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Teacher and Leader Development, NYS Education Department