| The purpose of the study was to identify factors teachers perceive as significant to their retention. This study explored the issues related to retention of elementary school teachers in an urban school district in the state of Pennsylvania. The study addressed which factors teachers, with respect to persevering in education, perceive more important. What factors do teachers consider important in their decision to remain in education? What impact does salary, age, and level of experience have on participant responses?;The data was collected using a web-based Likert survey. Descriptive statistical analysis of the data revealed that teachers perceived collegial support as the most important factor to retention, followed in the top five by job security, student needs, feeling of efficacy towards students, and school connection. Teachers perceived No Child Left Behind (NCLB) as the greatest deterrent to retention, followed by current salary, teaching methodologies, class size, and student discipline. The data analysis indicated that age had effect on participant response for NCLB, collegial support, efficacy, waiver and Title I, current salary, and teaching materials. Years of experience, according to the data, had an effect on participant response for the factors of class size, waiver and Title I, tenure, teaching materials, current salary, and mentoring. The data revealed that salary had an effect on participant response only in the areas of perceived job security and collegial support.;The findings of the study may provide a mechanism to identify significant characteristics associated with retention. This may provide a tool to facilitate the planning and strategy by which district's may increase teacher retention. |
