Study: Public Pre-K Teachers Better Off Than Private Ones

By Linda Jacobson

Prekindergarten teachers who work in schools and other publicly operated settings are better-qualified, get higher pay, and stay in their jobs longer than those who work in classrooms operated by private organizations, a study concludes.

"Inside the Pre-K Classroom," a study conducted by the Washington-based Center for the Child Care Workforce, found that salaries and turnover rates of pre-K teachers in publicly operated programs more closely resemble those of K- 12 teachers.

At the same time, the characteristics of staff members in community-based prekindergarten programs, operated by private nonprofit and for-profit groups, more closely resemble those of workers in child-care centers. Such centers are known for higher turnover and lower...