Teachers’ Time Use

Teachers are the backbone of our education system, shaping not only the academic success of millions of students but also their long-term well-being and economic mobility. One out of every 12 college educated workers in the U.S. is a teacher, making educators a vital and influential part of the national workforce. Research shows that teacher quality is the single most important school-based factor in determining students’ motivation, academic achievement, and future outcomes.  

The impact of great teaching is both immediate and enduring. As TNTP explored in Paths of Opportunity, young people who have access to high-quality academic experiences and excel in school are also more likely to earn a living wage and report high levels of well-being in adulthood. In fact, economists have found that students who move from an average teacher to an excellent teacher in a single grade can expect to earn thousands of additional dollars over their lifetimes. 

And yet, teachers increasingly view their profession as unsustainable. In 2024, more than 60% of teachers reported burnout, citing heavy workloads and insufficient support as key factors. Teachers matter profoundly, yet there is still much to learn about how they spend their days and how the use of their time influences both their own well-being and student learning. This is a critical gap: if we want to maximize student learning, well-being, and long-term opportunity, we must ensure teachers’ jobs are sustainable and they spend their time effectively. 

In this literature review, which synthesizes dozens of sources, we explore themes about how teachers use their time, the demands they face, and the often-blurred lines between work and personal life.  

Key Findings Include: 

• Teachers work substantially more hours than their contracts require, with much of their time consumed by non-instructional tasks that contribute to stress and burnout.
• Time use varies by teacher experience, school context, and student population, with those serving the highest-needs students often spending less time on instruction.  
• Recent shifts – such as the rise of educational technologies – have further complicated teachers’ workloads. 

Our analysis suggests ways education leaders and policymakers can provide more sustainable workloads for teachers and prioritize the instructional time that makes a crucial difference for student learning and lifelong success.

Read the full review and learn more about how TNTP can help you understand the demands on your teachers’ time and how to implement strategies that will truly support them.