Philadelphia Teaching Residency Research Base
Philadelphia Teaching Residency addresses the School District of Philadelphia's urgent need for math and science teachers. The residency model was chosen because of its proven results—a teacher retention rate of 90-95%.
Resource:
The Urban Teacher Challenge: Teacher Demand and Supply in the Great City Schools published in 2000 by Recruiting New Teachers, Inc., Council of the Great City Schools, and Council of the Great City Colleges of Education.
Findings:
The Council of the Great City Schools has 66 member school districts across the nation, including the Philadelphia School District.
- Over 95% of high schools and 80% of middle schools in the Great City Schools Council have an immediate need for math and science teachers
- Across ALL grades, there is over a 95% overwhelming need for teachers of color in science and math
Resource:
National Center for Educational Statistics, Mobility of public and private elementary and secondary teachers, by selected teacher and school characteristics: Selected years, 1987–88 through 2004–05
Findings:
- Over 20% of urban cities teacher's either transferred or left the teaching profession in 2004-05
Resource:
Alliance for Excellent Education, Teacher Attrition: A Costly Loss to the Nation and to the States
Findings:
- About half of the high schools in the nation's thirty-five largest cities have severe dropout rates—usually around 50%
- Students in high-poverty or high-minority schools have the greatest need for high-quality teachers and are almost twice as likely as other students to have novice teachers who lack proper mentoring