View in EDS

Bring in the Subs: A Mixed-Method Investigation of the Substitute Teacher Labor Market in Michigan. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1180

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Bring in the Subs: A Mixed-Method Investigation of the Substitute Teacher Labor Market in Michigan. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1180
Language: English
Authors: Chris Torres, Nathan Burroughs, Dirk Zuschlag, Rebecca Frausel, Callie Reichel, Jacqueline Gardner, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Source: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2025.
Availability: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 49
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Substitute Teachers, Teacher Supply and Demand, Teacher Shortage, Career Choice, Teaching Conditions, Teacher Motivation, Teacher Persistence, Administrator Attitudes, Central Office Administrators, Principals, Teacher Attitudes, Teacher Salaries, Student Behavior, Elementary Secondary Education
Geographic Terms: Michigan
Abstract: Substitute teachers play a crucial role in how schools can function, yet little research has focused on understanding the contours of the substitute labor market. This paper uses a mixed method approach, including a survey of a random sample of the population of substitute teachers, state administrative data, and interviews with district administrators and substitute teachers in Michigan to analyze substitute supply and retention and understand how substitutes navigate the labor market. The number of substitute teachers declined significantly from 2018-2021, only about a third worked as substitutes all three years, and the substitute demand and turnover were highest in urban and high-poverty districts. Pay and flexibility are among the strongest motivators for substitutes' career and assignment decisions, but we explore how the substitute labor market is segmented with some who need the money or flexibility and those who simply prefer flexible, contingent work with students. [Funding for this research study was provided by funds appropriated to the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity (MASO).]
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED674040
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED674040
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED674040
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Bring in the Subs: A Mixed-Method Investigation of the Substitute Teacher Labor Market in Michigan. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1180
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chris+Torres%22">Chris Torres</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nathan+Burroughs%22">Nathan Burroughs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dirk+Zuschlag%22">Dirk Zuschlag</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rebecca+Frausel%22">Rebecca Frausel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Callie+Reichel%22">Callie Reichel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jacqueline+Gardner%22">Jacqueline Gardner</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Annenberg+Institute+for+School+Reform+at+Brown+University%22">Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Annenberg+Institute+for+School+Reform+at+Brown+University%22"><i>Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University</i></searchLink>. 2025.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 49
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Substitute+Teachers%22">Substitute Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Supply+and+Demand%22">Teacher Supply and Demand</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Shortage%22">Teacher Shortage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Conditions%22">Teaching Conditions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Motivation%22">Teacher Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Persistence%22">Teacher Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Attitudes%22">Administrator Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Central+Office+Administrators%22">Central Office Administrators</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Principals%22">Principals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Salaries%22">Teacher Salaries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Behavior%22">Student Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Michigan%22">Michigan</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Substitute teachers play a crucial role in how schools can function, yet little research has focused on understanding the contours of the substitute labor market. This paper uses a mixed method approach, including a survey of a random sample of the population of substitute teachers, state administrative data, and interviews with district administrators and substitute teachers in Michigan to analyze substitute supply and retention and understand how substitutes navigate the labor market. The number of substitute teachers declined significantly from 2018-2021, only about a third worked as substitutes all three years, and the substitute demand and turnover were highest in urban and high-poverty districts. Pay and flexibility are among the strongest motivators for substitutes' career and assignment decisions, but we explore how the substitute labor market is segmented with some who need the money or flexibility and those who simply prefer flexible, contingent work with students. [Funding for this research study was provided by funds appropriated to the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity (MASO).]
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED674040
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED674040
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 49
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Substitute Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Supply and Demand
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Shortage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching Conditions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Motivation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Persistence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Administrator Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Central Office Administrators
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Principals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Salaries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Michigan
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Bring in the Subs: A Mixed-Method Investigation of the Substitute Teacher Labor Market in Michigan. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1180
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chris Torres
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Nathan Burroughs
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dirk Zuschlag
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rebecca Frausel
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Callie Reichel
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jacqueline Gardner
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
              Type: main
ResultId 1