White Paper Series
The Friday Institute White Paper Series is designed to present expert opinions and begin
conversations on topics related to transforming education.
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Strategies That Can Reduce New Teacher Attrition in North Carolina
Author: Kristen Corbell
This white paper focuses primarily on factors that can decrease new teacher turnover. In particular, this paper focuses on North Carolina, as North Carolina has particular interest in retaining qualified new teachers. The paper first outlines teacher turnover costs and its impact on specific counties in North Carolina. It then presents seven factors known to influence new teacher retention, as well as suggestions for school system leaders as they seek to improve their induction and retention programs.
Policy makers, researchers, schools, district administrators, and teachers need to be aware of factors for increasing new teacher retention:
- Increasing salary
- Face-to-face time with administrators
- Mentor interactions
- Collaborative time
- Providing ongoing beginning teacher seminars
- Decreasing beginning teacher assignments
- Providing a beginning teacher network
Determining, Developing and Assessing the Capabilities of NC's Future-Ready Students
Author: Chris Dede
What are the core capabilities people will need in the first part of the 21st century to qualify for an attractive, prosperous job and lifestyle? What is the role of information and communications technologies (ICT) in shaping those crucial capabilities? North Carolina’s educational systems are transforming their objectives, curricula, pedagogies, and assessments to help all students attain the sophisticated outcomes required for a successful, attractive lifestyle based on effective contributions in work and citizenship. This White Paper discusses 1) how to determine future-ready capabilities by offering a synthesized framework for 21st century skills, 2) how to develop these capabilities through proposed curricular evolution, and 3) how these capabilities should be assessed in contemporary learning environments.
Toward a New Learning Ecology
Authors: Hiller Spires, Eric Wiebe, Carl A. Young, Karen Hollebrands, & John Lee
As the nation’s economy continues its irrevocable shift from manufacturing toward idea-driven,
creative industries, our schools—and the teaching and learning enterprise at the heart of our
schools—need to undergo a transformation as well. The result of such a transformation needs
to be a type of educational experience and expertise that will not only support but also ignite
participation in—and leadership for—an idea-driven, creative economy. Equally important
as supporting a new economy is educational experience and expertise that supports a global
citizenry.