More schools are testing having four to five teachers working together to instruct larger groups of students — typically around 100 depending on the grade level, according to a K-12 Dive article. The team is often led by a veteran, or “lead,” teacher.
About 150 schools in 17 states implemented this team-based model during the 2024-25 school year through the Next Education Workforce (NEW) initiative, says Lennon Audrain, head of innovation and policy initiatives at NEW and a research assistant professor Arizona State University.
More than 1,000 schools in 17 states and the District of Columbia launched a similar team-based staffing strategy in the 2024-2025 school year through another non-profit, Public Impact’s Opportunity Culture.
And North Dakota became the first state to gain approval from the U.S. Department of Labor to start a registered apprenticeship program for lead teachers in early September. The state will launch a pilot program this fall using federal funds for 15 teachers who will receive training in the team-based model.
Audrain coauthored a June study that found teachers participating in the NEW model were less likely to quit compared to those instructing in traditional classrooms. He also found that teachers who were on a team reported having more autonomy, which boosted higher levels of retention.
In contrast, it’s more difficult for teachers to collaborate or talk with their colleagues as much in a traditional classroom format, Audrain says.
The team-based models can incur additional costs and adjusting student information systems and rethinking space requirements, he says. Districts also often provide higher compensation for lead teachers.
This could be a good time to rethink staffing models. Many districts have tight budgets as student enrollment continues to decline and more school closures are being discussed.
Enrollment declines are forcing some districts to address staffing levels. In Florida’s Orange County Public Schools 116 teachers are being reassigned to new positions this school year due to a sharp and unexpected drop in enrollment.
Some K-12 experts are advocating that schools rethink hiring practices, models for teacher pay, pathways into the profession, and team-based instruction, Audrain says.
K-12 Dive
