Where Teachers Work

New data from the EdWeek Research Center finds 63 percent of teachers polled work in the state where they lived as a child, but just over half of teachers would prefer to work in a state other than where they grew up.

Teachers who want to work in another state face the challenge of state-specific teacher licensing rules, which could be one reason why they stay in their home state. The process may be complicated, and additional courses or exams to become certified in a new state can be costly and time consuming.

However, ten states have recently signed on to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, an agreement which allows a teacher with a bachelor’s degree who has completed a state-approved program for teacher licensure and has a full teaching license to receive an equivalent license from participating states. While Texas is not currently one of the participating states, it is expected that more states are likely to join in the years to come.

A simpler process to licensure in another state may increase teacher mobility and make teacher recruitment easier.

For more information, check out the EducationWeek articles How Many Teachers Work in Their Hometown? Here’s the Latest Data and The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Is Now in Effect. Here’s What That Means.