District leaders' jobs are never easy and 2024 was no exception.
NCTQ publishes our monthly District Trendline newsletter to provide district leaders with easy access to research and policy patterns. The analysis of policies in the newsletter draws from the Teacher Contract Database, which includes information on 148 large districts across the country.
As we reach the end of the calendar year, we look back to see which topics most interested district readers.
Managing the harm of looming layoffs: While many districts are still focused on tackling shortages, our newsletter email with the highest "open rate" concerns a different problem: mitigating the harm of teacher layoffs. The end of federal pandemic recovery funds means that many districts that used those dollars to hire more staff to address student needs may need to start the painful process of letting staff go. This November edition explores current layoff policies, including the share of districts that still prioritize seniority rather than considering performance and the effect those policies may have on students, especially those in hard-to-staff schools.
Health care cost concerns: Our most-read piece this year is from January, when we analyzed how health insurance costs have changed. Across the U.S., health insurance costs have risen steeply, with a 45% increase since 2018. Fortunately, the rising costs for public school employees haven't been quite as precipitous, with only a 14% increase; still, that outpaces the 10% increase in teachers' salaries during the same time. Even as costs rise, almost half the districts for which we have this data cover 100% of their employees' premiums. How can districts counteract rising costs? Some states are using their purchasing power to negotiate better rates, and some districts are prioritizing health insurance coverage, even increasing the share of insurance costs they cover.
Tutoring to address pandemic learning loss: Teachers have always worked hard and aren't intentionally leaving any learning "on the table," so making up for lost learning may require a strategy that extends beyond available teachers and class time. In May, we rounded up the research on how to make high-impact tutoring with students effective and what pitfalls to avoid. One key takeaway is to ensure that any contracts with external tutoring providers center student outcomes, guarding against the risk that a company offers tutoring but no one shows up or learns anything.
Successes and challenges in student teaching: Clinical practice, commonly referred to as student teaching, is a powerful opportunity for both student teachers (who can gain the equivalent of a year or two of experience) and school districts (who are less likely to have vacancies when they host student teachers). In February, we shared the results of a survey of districts and prep programs as they evaluate the strengths and limitations of their approaches. Some of the most interesting insights were around the role and selection of cooperating teachers, who are the most important element of clinical practice. Both districts and prep programs said that finding instructionally effective cooperating teachers remains challenging. (Want to learn how some districts address this challenge? Read more in our Clinical Practice Action Guide.)
Wide ranges in length of school years: Now that the 2024–25 school year is well underway, some may already be looking forward to summer break. Our March analysis revealed that how long you have to wait differs widely across districts. The length of the school year varies by as much as 17 days, and school start dates vary by as much as 39 days.
As the year winds down, we hope the winter break offers an opportunity to rest, reflect on the past year, and prepare for the year ahead. In next year's District Trendline, we look forward to digging into many important topics, including revisiting policies on parental leave, teacher evaluation, and teacher salaries.
NCTQ publishes our monthly District Trendline newsletter to provide district leaders with easy access to research and policy patterns. The analysis of policies in the newsletter draws from the Teacher Contract Database, which includes information on 148 large districts across the country.
As we reach the end of the calendar year, we look back to see which topics most interested district readers.
Managing the harm of looming layoffs: While many districts are still focused on tackling shortages, our newsletter email with the highest "open rate" concerns a different problem: mitigating the harm of teacher layoffs. The end of federal pandemic recovery funds means that many districts that used those dollars to hire more staff to address student needs may need to start the painful process of letting staff go. This November edition explores current layoff policies, including the share of districts that still prioritize seniority rather than considering performance and the effect those policies may have on students, especially those in hard-to-staff schools.
Health care cost concerns: Our most-read piece this year is from January, when we analyzed how health insurance costs have changed. Across the U.S., health insurance costs have risen steeply, with a 45% increase since 2018. Fortunately, the rising costs for public school employees haven't been quite as precipitous, with only a 14% increase; still, that outpaces the 10% increase in teachers' salaries during the same time. Even as costs rise, almost half the districts for which we have this data cover 100% of their employees' premiums. How can districts counteract rising costs? Some states are using their purchasing power to negotiate better rates, and some districts are prioritizing health insurance coverage, even increasing the share of insurance costs they cover.
Tutoring to address pandemic learning loss: Teachers have always worked hard and aren't intentionally leaving any learning "on the table," so making up for lost learning may require a strategy that extends beyond available teachers and class time. In May, we rounded up the research on how to make high-impact tutoring with students effective and what pitfalls to avoid. One key takeaway is to ensure that any contracts with external tutoring providers center student outcomes, guarding against the risk that a company offers tutoring but no one shows up or learns anything.
Successes and challenges in student teaching: Clinical practice, commonly referred to as student teaching, is a powerful opportunity for both student teachers (who can gain the equivalent of a year or two of experience) and school districts (who are less likely to have vacancies when they host student teachers). In February, we shared the results of a survey of districts and prep programs as they evaluate the strengths and limitations of their approaches. Some of the most interesting insights were around the role and selection of cooperating teachers, who are the most important element of clinical practice. Both districts and prep programs said that finding instructionally effective cooperating teachers remains challenging. (Want to learn how some districts address this challenge? Read more in our Clinical Practice Action Guide.)
Wide ranges in length of school years: Now that the 2024–25 school year is well underway, some may already be looking forward to summer break. Our March analysis revealed that how long you have to wait differs widely across districts. The length of the school year varies by as much as 17 days, and school start dates vary by as much as 39 days.
As the year winds down, we hope the winter break offers an opportunity to rest, reflect on the past year, and prepare for the year ahead. In next year's District Trendline, we look forward to digging into many important topics, including revisiting policies on parental leave, teacher evaluation, and teacher salaries.