Principal Turnover: Are There Different Types of Principals Who Move From or Leave Their Schools? A Latent Class Analysis of the 2007–2008 Schools and Staffing Survey and the 2008–2009 Principal Follow-Up Survey

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which there is a typology of principals who depart from their schools in the U.S. using the 2007–2008 Schools and Staffing Survey and the 2008–2009 Principal Follow-up Survey. Prior principal retention research has focused on identifying factors that predict principal turnover; however, this research has not focused on understanding the extent to which there may potentially be different subgroups of principals who depart. This study uses latent class analysis to identify and better understand the types of principals who exit their schools and discusses the implications of such findings.