National Estimates of Retention, Migration, and Attrition A Multiyear Comparison of Music and Non-music Teachers

This Study was designed to estimate the magnitude of retention, migration. and attrition of music teachers; the transfer destinations of those who migrated; the career path status of those who left; and the likelihood that former music teachers Would return to teaching. Data, which were analyzed for Music (n = 881) and non-music teachers (n = 17,376), came from the 1983-1989, 1991-1992 1993-1994 and 2000-2001 administrations of the National Center for Education Statistics's Teacher Follow-up Survey, a national Survey designed to compile comprehensive data concerning changes in the teacher labor force. Results indicated that between 1988 and 2001, 84% of music teachers were retained by schools, 10% migrated to different schools, and 6% left the profession every year, in rates similar to non-music teachers. Transferring music teachers migrated primarily to different school districts in the same state. One year after leaving the profession, former teachers were attending college (28%), retired (23%), out of teaching (21%), in education but not as a teacher (14%). or working as a homemaker (12%). Approximately one third of former Music teachers planned to return to teaching within 5 years, and an additional quarter planned to return after 5 or more years.