The Shifting Demographics of America’s Educators

A new report by the National Center for Education Information finds that the attitudes of America’s teachers are shifting, along with their demographics.

Take age, for example: In 2005, 11% of teachers were in their 20’s; in 2011, it was up to 21%. Certainly, older teachers are retiring (this year, 31% of teachers were Baby Boomers, compared to 42% in 2005). In addition, programs such as the national Teach For America, or state programs such as DC Teaching Fellows, designed to insert youthful enthusiasm and different skill sets into America’s public schools are popular with recent graduates (4.3% of teachers this year are new hires who have never taught before).  In a tough economy, these programs often offer a chance to get a Masters degree and and help pay off student loans.

Furthermore, initiatives such as Teach Now, offering alternative training for people looking to enter a second career in teaching are also having an effect.  While these teachers are more likely to be Gen X or Baby Boomers, they bring a new perspective to teaching.

These changes will have an implication on the next generation of educational policy; with the influence of Gen Y who are independent, entrepreneurial and digital natives, we can expect to see a different style of educating in the coming years. How would you like education to change?

The entire report is here.