Music Teachers at Risk for Attrition and Migration

Abstract

This study examined the effects of teacher characteristics, school conditions, teacher efficacy, external support, and remuneration on music educators' risk for attrition and migration. Data from the 1999—2000 Schools and Staffing Survey—a comprehensive, nationally representative survey of teachers, principals, and schools conducted by the National Center for Educational Statistics—were examined for 1,931 music teacher participants. Based on sequential logistic regression analysis, significant predictors included young age (less than 30 years; 30—39 years), teaching in a secondary or private school, extracurricular hours, schoolwide concerns, limited support from administrators and parents, lower salary, and dissatisfaction with salary. When not controlling for school conditions and teacher efficacy, female music teachers were more likely than males to be at greater risk, and minority teachers were more likely to be a high risk than nonminorities. No observed effects were found for older teachers, education, mentoring, and school location. Implications for music teacher retention policy are discussed.