A research report recently published by Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute on Public Policy, Finding and Keeping Educators for Arizona Classrooms, aggregated concrete data along with information from a statewide teacher and administer survey to dig deep in the causes and best practices for addressing Arizona’s teaching shortage. Low teacher pay is an issue that has been widely discussed in Arizona and has prompted some bumps in teacher salary. Last year Prop 123 passed, giving schools an infusion of cash and the ability to raise teacher pay. Pay is a significant issue, but teacher retention is nuanced. The causes of teacher attrition varied. Several themes emerged to explain teacher attrition in Arizona in this report including:

1)Professional pay--teachers earn much less than others with four year degrees.
2)Increasing workload--teacher face increasing accountability for student performance and extra responsibilities like tutoring are often expected but not compensated.
3)Support for the profession--new support from colleagues, administrators, and the community and structured support in the first years is essential for teacher longevity.
4)Passion for the Profession--most teachers say that they are invested in their students and do the best they can for their students even in challenging circumstances.

One of the survey respondents put it this way: “Teacher retention requires a balance of workload, pay, and respect for the profession.”  Recruiting and retaining teachers in Arizona will require a varied, creative approach with schools, communities, teacher education programs, and teacher support organizations all playing a part in engaging and finding solutions.

Three best practices were listed as innovative measures to work on this issue, including National Board Certification, mentoring, and teacher support. The Teacher Retention Project was highlighted as an innovative teacher support program stating, “Recruiting and retaining Special Education teachers is especially difficult. The Teacher Retention Project provides support to Arizona Special Education teachers and those considering a career in the field. The goal of this program is to help teachers make a long-term commitment to special education.” The Teacher Retention Project is committed to ensuring teachers have the resources, tools, and support needed to be successful in their careers. To read further click here:  Finding and Keeping Educators for Arizona Classrooms.

By: Tiffany Sandoval
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I have a file folder full of report cards and progress reports from my oldest son. For me, they are a keepsake. My personal connection to my kid's report cards had me reflecting on the comments I have written on student report cards, which in turn has motivated me to be more intentional with my own report card comments. Here are a few tips for creating quality comments.


​Provide comments that are specific to the student and solution-focused.

​Give specific examples of student progress or struggles. "Excellent job in science" is too general and doesn’t give the student or parent an idea of that students’ strengths. "Needs improvement" in reading also lacks detail and might leave a parent or student feeling frustrated. Try to be both specific and solution-focused in your comments. For example, “Michael has improved in his reading fluency. He has increased from 60 words a minute to 75 words per minute” helps both parents and the student to understand how much growth has been made. “Michael mastered 2, 3, and 4 multiplication facts, but needs practice on the rest over the summer to ensure he is ready for the next school year,” presents a need and action for the parent and student to tackle over the summer.

Consider the fact that this comment is part of a student’s permanent record.

Is morning tardiness an issue that should be addressed on the report card? Probably not. Filter your comments through the lens of a this being a record which will might be saved and looked back upon in future years.  Make comments that are specific to student growth, strengths, and needs. When mentioning student struggles, try to focus on potential solutions and/or action steps.

Match report card comments to student grades.

It can very confusing to a parent to read needs improvement when the grades listed are straight As. It can be just as confusing reading positive comments and low grades. Comments should provide insight to student progress and further explain the grades awarded. Mismatches can be frustrating and confusing for both parents and students.

During this busy time of year, take a few extra minutes to provide specific and solution-focused feedback to each of your students.