Final choices: Surveying career options

Abstract

This article follows the 25 exemplar elementary, secondary English, and math teachers prepared in New Jersey's alternate route program (AR) or college-based programs (CB) through their 11th year. The article examines retention and attrition patterns, including moving from school to school or to education-related positions outside of K-12 classroom settings. The article presents data on teachers' reasons for staying or leaving, including their career aspirations. The article concludes with a discussion of the findings and the implications for teacher education.