Washington, D.C. — Roughly 7 out of 10 early career teachers abandon or consider leaving the classroom within their first five years of teaching, according to 2025 survey data collected and analyzed by the Center for American Progress.
A new report and accompanying fact sheet shed light on the experiences of early career teachers and the factors that either assisted or hindered their retention in the field. CAP also polled educators for their opinions on the policy issues and solutions they find most important to the teaching profession. A total of 309 participants representing 38 states and Washington, D.C., participated in the survey in spring 2025.
Key findings from the data include:
- One in 3 early career teachers reported not participating in a formal induction program.
- Nearly 70 percent of participants reported that they either have considered leaving or already left the classroom, with the majority citing poor working conditions, lack of support, and low pay as top factors in their decision.
- More than 64 percent of participants disagree or strongly disagree that their pay adequately reflects the cost of living in their area, while only 11 percent agree or strongly agree.
- Participants with paid maternity or parental leave were more than 11 percent less likely to leave or contemplate leaving the profession than those without either.
- Participants identified low educator pay, inadequate employee benefits, and lack of mental health support as the top three issues policymakers should immediately address.
“Teachers are the core driver of student achievement,” said Weadé James, senior director for K-12 Education Policy and co-author of the report. “At a time when national student performance is facing significant declines, and historic lows in some cases, policymakers must prioritize investments in teachers. Our study underscores the urgent need to retain educators and offers solutions to ensure these professionals have the support structures they need.”
“At one point in their lives, everyone in the American workforce benefited from the support of a teacher. Without a strong pipeline of effective educators, our future workforce will be less competitive and experience fewer economic gains,” said Paige Shoemaker DeMio, senior analyst for K-12 Education Policy and co-author of the report. “We need to create an environment that offers teachers flexibility, support, and professional development opportunities to address the unique stressors of the job.”
Read the factsheet: “Fact Sheet: How To Increase the Retention of Early Career Teachers” by Weadé James and Paige Shoemaker DeMio
Read the full report: “How To Increase the Retention of Early Career Teachers” by Weadé James and Paige Shoemaker DeMio
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].