Giving Compass' Take:

• A new proposal from New York City outlines a teacher residency program and mentorship opportunities to curb high rates of educator turnover. 

• How will the mentorship component help this program succeed? What are the benefits of educator mentorship? 

• Read about how California implemented a long term strategy using teacher residency programs. 


Prospective teachers in New York City could receive a stipend for housing in addition to intense mentoring as part of a proposed year-long residency program that would target as many as 1,000 beginning educators and match them with mentor-teachers, New York Daily News reports.

The program would also benefit mentor teachers who would receive a salary hike under the proposal for working with beginning teachers. Stringer estimates the proposal would cost about $40 million a year.

The program would be intended to stem the tide of teachers who are leaving the classroom.

While high teacher turnover rates are a problem across the nation, some districts struggle more than others because of circumstances specific to their region, whether it be the isolation of rural conditions, the challenges of teaching in high-poverty schools or a housing market that makes it nearly impossible for teachers to afford to live. High teacher turnover not only creates headaches for school leaders who are constantly having to hire replacements, ibut t is a costly process and one that affects student achievement, experts say.

Under the new proposal, teachers would receive a stipend that would allow them to look for their own housing solutions. But because it's a residency program, the participants would also receive mentoring. Teacher residency programs are gaining traction as schools are seeing the value of increased support and extra instruction in the early years of teaching.

Some studies suggest that these increased levels of support can be effective in retaining teachers for the long run.

These mentoring programs have the added benefit of allowing experienced teachers to serve in leadership positions without leaving the classroom, which improves teacher retention.

Read the full article about teacher residency programs by Amelia Harper at Education Dive.