The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recently released an early look at results from the 2011-2012 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS).SASS is administered every four years and provides the best set of statistics on the characteristics of teachers and principals across the country. The table below presents information from the 2007-2008 and 2011-2012 administrations of SASS. Here are several interesting data points:
The number of full-time teachers in public charter schools grew by 60 percent between 2007-2008 and 2011-2012. This is compared with a 2 percent drop in the number of teachers in traditional public schools.
A larger percentage of teachers and principals in public charter schools were Hispanic and Black compared with teachers and principals in traditional public schools in 2011-2012.
On average, teachers in public charter schools were younger than teachers in traditional public schools in 2011-2012.
The average teacher in a public charter school made $8,900 less than the average teacher in a traditional public school in 2011-2012. The average principal in a charter school made $11,000 less than the average principal in a traditional public school.
On average, teachers and principals in public charter schools work slightly more hours per week than teachers and principals in traditional public schools.
Characteristics of Teachers and Principals, Schools and Staffing Survey (2007-2008 & 2011-2012)
Public Charter Schools
Traditional Public Schools
2011-2012
2007-2008
2011-2012
2007-2008
Teachers
Total Number
115,600
72,430
3,269,500
3,332,090
Race / Ethnicity
Hispanic
13.1%
9.3%
7.6%
7.0%
White
69.9%
72.9%
82.3%
83.3%
Black
11.8%
12.3%
6.6%
6.9%
Other
5.2%
5.5%
3.5%
2.8%
Education
Less than bachelor’s
4.1%
1.9%
3.8%
0.8%
Bachelor’s degree
52.3%
62.2%
39.4%
47.0%
Master’s degree
37.3%
30.0%
48.0%
44.9%
Higher than a master’s degree
6.3%
6.0%
8.8%
7.3%
Average age of teachers
37.4
37.9
42.6
42.3
Median age of teachers
34.2
34.7
41.2
41.6
Average base salary
$44,500
$40,800
$53,400
$49,800
Average # of years teaching experience
8.7
7.5
14.0
13.1
Average # of years teaching at current school
3.6
3.9
8.1
8.5
Average total hours of work per week
53.5
54.4
52.2
52.8
Principals
Total Number
4,460
3,550
85,350
86,920
Race / Ethnicity
Hispanic
11.7%
9.3%
6.6%
6.4%
White
65.0%
66.3%
81.0%
81.5%
Black
18.3%
21.7%
9.7%
10.2%
Other
5.0%
2.7%
2.7%
2.0%
Education
Bachelor’s degree or less
16.5%
11.7%
1.4%
1.0%
Master’s degree
59.2%
57.3%
61.8%
61.2%
Doctorate or first professional degree
8.0%
14.5%
10.0%
8.2%
Average annual salary
$80,100
$77,900
$91,100
$86,100
Average # of total years of experience
5.9
6.6
7.2
7.5
Average # of years at current school
3.3
3.5
4.2
4.3
Average total hours of work per week
59.2
58.2
58.0
58.4
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
If you’re interested in further information about what attracts teachers to public charter schools, take a look at our issue brief that examines the practices public charter schools employ to hire the teachers they need. Like all public school leaders, charter school leaders want to hire talented and passionate teachers that will boost student achievement and contribute to a thriving school culture. Further, charter school leaders are attuned to whether a teacher is a good fit for the unique mission of their public charter school. Anna Nicotera is the senior director of research at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Learn more:http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2013/2013312.pdfhttp://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009323.pdfhttp://nces.ed.gov/pubs2013/2013314.pdfhttp://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009324.pdf
