2024 National Teacher Survey

2024 National Teacher Survey

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AdoptAClassroom.org is uniquely positioned to amplify the voices of the teachers we serve. Our annual teacher survey is one way that we are able to share the perspectives of our national community of PreK-12 educators.

Last year, we learned that teachers are spending an average of $860 out of pocket on school supplies. This year, we asked teachers to share how current events like the election and inflation continue to impact their profession and their students’ learning. More than 3,200 teachers responded.

Thank you to the educators who took time to help spread awareness about how our communities can better support them.

Table of contents:

⇲ Key Findings
⇲ Teachers and Current Events
⇲ Teachers and the 2024 Presidential Election
⇲ The Teacher Retention Crisis
⇲ Why Classroom Funding Matters
⇲ Which Supplies Classrooms Need Most
⇲ Teachers Make the Difference for Students
⇲ Teacher Demographics

Past Surveys

⇱ 2023 Teacher Spending Survey
⇱ All AdoptAClassroom.org Surveys

Table of contents:

⇲ Key Findings
⇲ Teachers and Current Events
⇲ Teachers and the 2024 Presidential Election
⇲ The Teacher Retention Crisis
⇲ Why Classroom Funding Matters
⇲ Which Supplies Classrooms Need Most
⇲ Teachers Make the Difference for Students
⇲ Teacher Demographics

Past Surveys

⇱ 2023 Teacher Spending Survey
⇱ All AdoptAClassroom.org Surveys

Key Findings:

14%

of teachers are considering leaving the profession in the next 12 months, this result is about the same as 2022.

81%

of teachers said they have at least one student who relies on them for the following: food, hygiene items, and/or school supplies.

Looking ahead to the 2024–2025 school year, classrooms are still in need of basic supplies.

Teachers say increased funding to classrooms helps their students.

Teachers and Current Events:

Of all current events, teachers are most concerned with inflation.

Teachers are more concerned than the average American about the quality of public K-12 schools.*

77%

of teachers said that inflation was a big problem in the country today. This was 12 percentage points higher than the average American.*

62%

of teachers said that the affordability of healthcare was a big problem in the country today.

How teachers compare to the average American*:

Which issues would you agree are a very big problem in the country today?

Average Teacher

Average American

Inflation

The affordability of healthcare

Gun violence

The quality of public K-12 Schools

Drug addiction

The ability of Democrats and Republicans to work together

Violent crime

The state of moral values

Racism

The federal budget deficit

Climate change

Unemployment

Undocumented immigration

Conditions of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure

Domestic terrorism

International terrorism

None of the above

*Source for “Average American” Data: Pew Research Center

Teachers and the 2024 Presidential Election:

Teachers have several concerns about the state of education today that they wish the presidential candidates would address.

84%

of teachers would like the presidential candidates to address improving salaries for teachers at a federal level.

79%

of teachers would like the presidential candidates to address increasing federal funding for education.

60%

of teachers would like the presidential candidates to address recruiting more teachers to the profession and retaining them.

56%

of teachers would like the presidential candidates to address improving school safety.

The Teacher Retention Crisis

Are you considering leaving the teaching profession in the next 12 months?

14% said Yes

86% said No

Why Classroom Funding Matters

Teachers say increased funding to classrooms helps their students.

81%

of teachers said increased funding addresses gaps in their students’ learning environment.

77%

of teachers said increased funding addresses students’ different learning styles.

76%

of teachers said increased funding improves student engagement.

How does increased funding to your classroom help your students?

Addresses gaps in my students’ learning environment

Addresses students’ different learning styles

Improves student engagement

Helps with issues caused by poverty or homelessness

Improves my students’ self-confidence

Directly improves literacy

Improves my relationship with my students

Directly improves test scores

Increased funding does not help my students

Which Supplies Classrooms Need Most

Looking ahead to the 2024–2025 school year, classrooms are still in need of basic supplies.

56%

of teachers said they will need inclusive/adaptive classroom materials.

50%

of teachers said they will need STEM classroom materials.

Teachers Make the Difference for Students

81%

of teachers said they have at least one student who relies on them for the following: food, hygiene items, and/or school supplies.

Looking ahead to the upcoming school year, what are some of your students’ biggest challenges?

My students do not have enough support at home.

74%

My students are not reading at grade level.

68%

My students experience poverty at home.

68%

My students do not get enough individual attention.

58%

My students are still trying to catch up after education interruptions during COVID-19.

52%

At least one of my students experiences homelessness.

47%

My students do not have access to the mental health resources they need.

46%

My students don’t have access to the basic classroom materials they need to learn.

43%

My students do not have access to books that reflect their ethnic background, culture, or heritage.

32%

Teacher Demographics

3,206 Certified and/or Licensed PreK-12 Teachers Responded

• Public, private, and charter school teachers responded representing all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• The majority of the teachers responding to this survey work for high-needs schools. 74% was the average percentage of students at the teacher’s school that qualified for free or reduced-price lunch.