Study Finds Ohio Teachers Leaving Charters at Higher Rate than Those in District Schools

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According to a new study published by researchers at Ohio State University, about half of the teachers in the state’s charter schools quit their jobs every year from 2000 to 2003. The departure rate in traditional schools was between six and eleven percent during those same three years. Charter school proponents warn that without nuance, comparing data from charter schools and traditional public schools can be tricky. For example, traditional public schools are usually funded at a higher level than charter schools, giving them less money to attract and keep experienced teachers, said John Rothwell of the Ohio Charter School Sponsor Institute. "If you're given less than 75 percent of the funding available to another school, you're not going to be competitive in the marketplace," he said. Others note that turnover rates of teachers in district schools are likely to be lower because union contracts give teachers the "golden handcuffs" of tenure that provide a strong financial incentive not to move.

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Date: 06/30/2005
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