Coordinator Of Research & Program Evaluation
Contact Number: 803-323-4032
Email: garrettj@cerra.org
Research and Data Reporting
Jennifer Garrett, PhD
Research
CERRA is invested in conducting research related to teacher recruitment and retention in South Carolina. These efforts include surveys, focus groups, interviews, literature reviews, etc. In addition to collecting data from various stakeholder groups, CERRA also provides relevant information obtained from other education agencies.
Jennifer Garrett, CERRA's Coordinator of Research and Program Evaluation, is responsible for all of CERRA's research-related activities including the Annual Educator Supply and Demand Survey. She regularly evaluates the relevance and effectiveness of programs and services through ongoing data collection and analysis. Reports related to these program evaluation efforts are disseminated at various times throughout the year and available on the website.
Below you will find a variety of reports and documents all containing information about teacher recruitment and retention in South Carolina. If you have a question about any of the links found on this page or would like to request additional information, please click on the box below and complete a Data Request Form.
Rural Teacher Recruiting Incentive
(Rural Recruitment Initiative)
Beginning in fiscal year 2016 (FY16), pursuant to Proviso 1A.73, CERRA (in collaboration with the SC Department of Education and the SC Education Oversight Committee) was charged with the responsibility of developing a program of teacher recruitment and retention incentives available to eligible public school districts. The proviso has been renewed each year through the present with some substantive amendments. Below are legislative reports submitted over the last five years detailing district incentives, disbursements and expenditures, and effectiveness data.
The Value of Teacher Forums in Establishing Teacher Leadership in School Systems
CERRA's teacher leadership initiatives include the facilitation of the SC State Teacher Forum and the support of district forums. Dr. Suzanne Koty, who completed her dissertation, "Developing Teacher Leaders Through Professional Development Offered in a District Teacher Forum," in 2020, summarizes the value of forums in this white paper. Overall, the research supports teacher forums as a retention tool and a means to advance teachers within the profession. Below is the link to the white paper.
Exploring the Uniformity of South Carolina Teacher Vacancies: Policy and Practice Implications for Addressing the Teacher Shortage in South Carolina
CERRA recently partnered with the South Carolina Teacher Education Advancement Consortium Through Higher Education Research (SC-TEACHER) to produce a report focusing on teacher vacancies in the state. SC-TEACHER used data from CERRA’s Supply and Demand Survey, as well as demographic information and student achievement results collected from the SC Department of Education. Overall, the report concluded that school districts in rural areas and those with higher rates of poverty tend to have more teacher vacancies. Additionally, districts with greater teacher vacancy rates tend to have lower student achievement scores. Below are links to the full report and a one-page
fact sheet.
View The SC-teacher Fact Sheet
SC Annual Educator Supply and Demand Survey
Since 2001, the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) has administered the SC Annual Educator Supply and Demand Survey to all public school districts in the state. Once the information is submitted in the fall of each school year, CERRA compiles a statewide report summarizing data on teacher and administrator positions, hires, vacancies, and departures. This report is made available on our website in January each year.
View the Supply & Demand Reports
Retaining South Carolina Teachers Through National Board Certification
Since 2018, CERRA has released multiple reports related to classroom retention among National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in South Carolina. All reports concluded that, over a five-year period, turnover rates of SC NBCTs were significantly lower than those of all teachers in the state. These studies show that National Board Certification is a proven strategy for keeping accomplished teachers in the classroom.
View The National Board Report
South Carolina Teacher Turnover Data
Teacher turnover rates are obtained from the District Report Cards produced each year by the South Carolina Department of Education. The figures presented reflect the most recent data available.
5-Year Teacher Turnover, By District
South Carolina Teacher Salary Information
Average teacher salary information is obtained from the District Report Cards produced each year by the South Carolina Department of Education. The figures presented reflect the most recent data available.
2023-24 Average Teacher Salary, By District
Race and Gender Statistics of South Carolina Teachers
Demographic data are obtained from the South Carolina Department of Education's Office of Research and Data Analysis. The figures presented reflect the most recent data available.