An Examination of Factors That Influenced Music Teacher Attrition Post-Pandemic

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, music teacher attrition rates have increased, and many states report challenges in hiring qualified music teachers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influenced music teachers’ decisions to leave the profession between 2020 and 2024. Former music teachers ( N = 56) completed a modified Teacher Follow Up Survey (National Center for Education Statistics) rating the importance that 25 factors had on their decision to leave K–12 music teaching. Participants assigned the highest ratings to dissatisfaction with teaching as a career, student discipline problems, dissatisfaction with administration, and workplace conditions. Participants also selected the most important factor from among the list of 25. Participants most frequently chose issues with administration, student discipline, personal reasons, and higher salary. A majority of former K–12 music teachers (57%) did not intend to return to the profession after leaving, underscoring the need for effective recruitment and retention.