Unfortunately, most urban schools are understaffed and forced to hire the least qualified teachers. Once these teachers gain experience, they often leave for better working conditions in the suburbs. To combat this cycle, not only recruiting but retaining high quality teachers must be a priority for urban school districts.

How to Retain Good Teachers in Urban Schools:
1. Provide strong, supportive principal leadership
2. Involve teachers in decision-making, especially when discussing resources such as books, paper, and other classroom supplies
3. Make the smallest class sizes possible
4. Encourage continuous professional development
5. Promote team-teaching so everyone can benefit from shared best practices

For more information please click the following:

RETAINING GOOD TEACHERS IN URBAN SCHOOLS
www.ericdigests.org/1992-4/good.htm

Many urban teachers lack basic materials for conducting class, such as books, desks, blackboards, and paper, while at the same time dealing with social problems students bring to class, greater bureaucratic constraints than suburban teachers, and teach more students a day. Improving working conditions can improve teacher attendance, effort, morale, and sense of efficacy in the classroom. This article describes what these conditions are and how they encourage high quality teachers to stay in urban classrooms.

HIGH QUALITY URBAN SCHOOL TEACHERS
www.nasbe.org/Standard/1_Winter2000/Claycomb.pdf

Urban schools are often understaffed and are forced to allow non-certified individuals to work as teachers. Because the least qualified teachers are put in the most challenging urban teaching positions, they usually leave within five years, which only hurts the schools more. Again, recruiting high quality teachers must be a priority for urban school districts.

EDUCATIONAL  LEADERSHIP (Learning from Urban Schools)

"In Their Own Words" by Bob Krajewski
Three urban principals chronicle their efforts to turn around their low-performing schools and create sustainable leadership.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
http://www.aasa.org/

This organization is a connection among 13,000 administrators across the United States as well as the world.  These leaders are responsible for improving the quality of districts' educational systems.  As a unit working together, they can help shape the future of America.  "Our students form the fabric of America, its values, products, services and growth."

THE NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL REFORM
http://www.centerforcsri.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=88

This site provides administrators with a step by step approach to restructuring, from organizing a district team and assessing the district's capacity to govern restructuring decisions to conducting a school-by-school analysis and implementing a restructuring plan.