In 1998, the demand for educators in Alaska reached an all-time high. The shortage was most critical for music, math, and special education teachers, as well as for counselors. Filling positions in rural areas is especially difficult. An early retirement incentive program has caused a drain on Alaska's pool of teachers. Factors that inhibit…

By focusing attention on comparative state performance in educating students, the Wall Chart (State Education Statistics, 1983) forced policymakers to consider state differences in student populations and the consequences of these differences for the outcomes of state systems of education. This paper presents the results of a study that attempted…