Impact of High Rate of Principal Turnover in U.S.

Principal turnover rates in this country have risen to a staggering 18 percent—higher than the rate for teachers. Researchers Brendan Bartanen from Texas A&M University, Jason A. Grissom from Vanderbilt University, and Laura K. Rogers from University of Utah conducted a study into how principal turnover affects school performance. To help gauge the impact, the researchers looked at principal turnover by different types of leadership transfers: whether a principal was demoted or promoted to a different position. The study, The Impact of Principal Turnover, found that principal turnover on average has a negative effect on school performance. The negative effects are largest when principals transfer to a different school or are promoted to a central administrator position. However, schools where principals were demoted did not face a negative effect and actually benefited from the leadership change.