Seven Trends: The Transformation of the Teaching Force

TLDR

The elementary and secondary teaching force has been questioned for changes in composition, demographics, and professional characteristics over recent decades. The study aims to identify trends and changes in the teaching force over recent decades. The authors conducted an exploratory research project to investigate these trends. The research revealed significant, ongoing changes in the teaching force that have largely gone unnoticed by researchers, policymakers, and the public. The report is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/cpre_researchreports/79.

Abstract

Has the elementary and secondary teaching force changed in recent years? And, if so, how? Have the types and kinds of individuals going into teaching changed? Have the demographic characteristics of those working in classrooms altered? To answer these questions we embarked on an exploratory research project to try to discover what trends and changes have, or have not, occurred in the teaching force over the past few decades. We were surprised by what we found. We discovered that the teaching force has been, and is, greatly changing; yet, even the most dramatic trends appear to have been little noticed by researchers, policy makers, and the public. Disciplines Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Elementary Education and Teaching | Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching | Secondary Education and Teaching Comments View on the CPRE website. This report is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/cpre_researchreports/79 CONSORTIUM FOR POLICY RESEARCH IN EDUCATION Seven Trends: The Transformation of the Teaching Force Updated April 2014 Richard Ingersoll Lisa Merrill Daniel Stuckey CPRE REPORT