SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement about, "A Possible Dream: Retaining California Teachers So All Students Learn," released today by the California State University Center for Teacher Quality.

"This important new study sheds light on how we might address a critical problem in California's schools – the shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in our most challenging schools.

"Largely because of retirements and teachers leaving the field early in their careers, this shortage is expected to be as high as 33,000 teachers a year by 2015. Too many teachers leave the profession prematurely – 22 percent of California teachers leave after the first four years. In addition, too few teachers remain teaching in our most challenging schools. Ten percent of teachers in high-poverty schools transfer to other schools each year.

"It's clearly essential that we find ways to keep more teachers in the classroom.

"Losing good teachers who want to teach but who grow frustrated with working conditions is expensive, inefficient, and unfair. California spends more than $455 million each year to recruit, hire, and prepare replacement teachers.

"Students who suffer the most from this high turnover are often those in the greatest need of continuity, experience, and expertise in their educational lives. If California is going to close the achievement gap we must ensure that all students have skilled and knowledgeable teachers with the support and resources necessary to succeed."

To view the report, please go to Teacher Retention in California's K-12 Public Schools [www.calstate.edu/teacherquality/retention/] (Outside Source).