Mentoring or money? A new study says more emphasis should be placed on programs that foster young teachers and encourage them to stay in the profession. Sacramento reporter Jenny O'Mara has more.
More money helps, but the study shows programs to encourage new teachers are keeping them on the job. The Public Policy Institute of California found that the statewide Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment or BITSA program improved teacher retention by 26-percent. Debbie Pitta oversees that program for Placer County. She says young teachers need a mentor.
Pitta: You don't usually go to your principal, because then you're actually saying to your principal I'm not good' and that's the person who evaluates you and keeps you in your job, so with the BTSA program you have a mentor who says how's it going'.
The PPIC study examined teacher retention rates through the 1990s and found that 22-percent left the profession by the end of their fourth year.
