Horng, E.L. (2009). 46 (3)
One of the greatest differences in resources across schools in California comes from an inequitable distribution of teachers. This study identifies reasons for this sorting of teacher by surveying 531 teachers in a California Elementary school district. The survey ask the teachers to make choices between various workplace characteristics. With this information, the study disentangles student demographics from other characteristics of teaching jobs that are amenable to policy influences. It finds the teachers identify working conditions-particularly, school facilities, administrative support, adn class sizes-and salaries as significantly more important that student characteristics when selecting a school in which to work.
