Charter Schools and the Teacher Job Search

Abstract

This article examines the position of charter schools in prospective elementary teachers' job search decisions. Using a labor market segmentation framework, it explores teacher applicants' decisions to apply to charter schools. The data come from a mixed-methods longitudinal study of prospective teachers looking for their first job. This article finds moderate support that the labor market is segmented between charter and traditional public schools. The school's institutional status and applicants' lack of familiarity with charter schools were related to their disinclination to apply to charter schools.

Keywords:

• charter schools
• teacher career decisions
• teacher labor market

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Center on School Choice, which is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (R305A040043). All opinions expressed in this article represent those of the author and not necessarily the institution with which she is affiliated or the U.S. Department of Education.