New Analysis: Relationship between Teacher Vacancy Rates and Poverty Rates in NYC Districts

Students in New York City's higher poverty areas face a number of challenges to their academic success. At their neighborhod school, they are subject to higher levels of teacher turnover than their peers in more wealthy or even middle-class neighborhoods.

Teaching positions in those neighborhoods are often the most difficult to fill. Any policy that would put ineffective teachers from the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) pool back in the classroom, such as by requiring principals to select first from among the ATR pool rather than hiring the most qualified teachers, would disproportionately harm children in New York City's highest poverty communities.

Download the analysis »

A close-up photograph of a young woman with dark, curly hair and glasses, leaning in to assist a young boy with his schoolwork. The woman, likely a teacher or tutor, is smiling and pointing at a paper with a pencil while the boy, who is wearing a dark hoodie, looks intently at the work. Word flashcards are visible on a blue background in the distance.

A teacher leads a one-on-one reading session focused on strategy and engagement.

About TNTP

TNTP is the nation’s leading research, policy, and consulting organization dedicated to transforming America’s public education system so that every young person thrives.

Today, we work side-by-side with educators, system leaders, and communities across the nation to reach ambitious goals for student success.

Yet the possibilities we imagine push far beyond the walls of school and the education field alone. We are catalyzing a movement across sectors to create multiple pathways for young people to achieve academic, economic, and social mobility.

Learn More About TNTP