Teacher Attrition Survey

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Teacher Attrition Survey is an annual data collection tool administered by Exceptional Student Services (ESS) to all public education agencies (PEAs) in Arizona. The purpose of the survey is to:

Track and quantify special education personnel shortages statewide.
Gather data on staffing trends, including turnover and retention of special education directors, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers.
Provide ADE/ESS with critical data to drive recruitment and retention programs, addressing Arizona’s ongoing shortage of qualified special education personnel.

The survey is open from November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027. Completion of the Teacher Attrition Survey is mandatory for all public education agencies in Arizona.

Tools

To assist with your data collection, you can download a fillable document with all survey questions for your reference. The form is optional and intended to be a helpful tool for use prior to inputting data into the Teacher Attrition Survey Application. This form is not submitted as part of the data collection process.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document provides answers to common questions about the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Teacher Attrition Survey. Public education agencies (PEAs) are encouraged to review these questions before completing the survey to ensure accurate and consistent reporting. If you do not find the information you need, please contact the Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Recruitment and Retention Team for additional assistance.

FAQ - Accessing the Survey

Who must take the survey?

This data submission is required of all public education agencies in Arizona.

Where do I find the survey?

After signing into ADEConnect, you can find the Teach Attrition Survey by clicking on "View Applications," “Exceptional Student Services Portal,” and then “Data Surveys.” You may need to request the ADEConnect Role of “ESS Data Surveys User” from your Local ADEConnect Entity Administrator if you do not already have access to the Teacher Attrition Survey.

What is ADEConnect?

ADEConnect is an identity management system. It protects you as a user of ADE applications, and it protects ADE from unauthorized access. FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) and the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Privacy Act (GSA 2180.1) dictate that personal information and student educational records are accessible only by those persons with a valid need. ADEConnect keeps ADE compliant with those regulations.

It is a violation of ADE’s Acceptable Use Policy to share IDs and passwords. Violators of this policy could face sanctions up to and including referral to appropriate law enforcement agencies. See the ADEConnect Acceptable Use Policy for more information.

Does it matter which browser I use?

You should be able to log in to ADEConnect using any web browser. Some users may also be able to access ADE applications through integration with their student information system (SIS).

What if I log in to ADEConnect and don’t have access to/can't find the survey?

If you do not see the survey in ADEConnect, you may need additional permissions. To identify the appropriate contact for your organization, use the ADEConnect – Find Administrator search feature to locate your entity's Entity Administrator. Your Entity Administrator can verify your account access and assign the permissions needed to view and complete the survey. If you are unable to locate your Entity Administrator through ADEConnect, please contact ESS Recruitment and Retention at [email protected].

FAQ -Taking the Survey

Can a survey question be left blank?

No. Each survey question requires a response prior to final submission.

FAQ - Section A

What is meant by "primary" special education director?

Some public education agencies may employ multiple directors who report to an executive special education director. Only report the highest-ranking special education director in the public education agency when answering questions in Section A: Special Education Directors.

FAQ - Section B

When you ask about the number of special education teacher vacancies not filled (OPEN) as of October 1, do I count positions filled by a staffing agency as vacancies?

No. Only count a position as vacant if it is filled by neither a contract agency nor a district/charter employee.

FAQ - Section C

Are both employed and contracted personnel included in the survey responses?

Yes. Only report a teacher or service provider as employed FTE if they are directly employed by your district or charter. Report contract agency FTE if they are directly employed by a contract agency.

Should personnel who are contracted be counted as vacant positions?

No. Only report vacant FTE if there are neither employed personnel nor personnel provided through a contract agency on October 1, 2026.

If an Education service agency or one of the ASDB Co-ops provides related services to my students, is that considered "contracted" personnel?

Yes. Only report a teacher or service provider as employed if they are under contract with your district or charter. If you are not certain whether a particular employee is staff or contracted, contact your HR officer to verify.

Who should be included under a "written agreement with personnel FTE procured"?

Include any staff from a contract agency or staff providing Co-Op services from ASDB to students attending your PEA campus (not an ASDB site).

FAQ - Other Questions

How do I calculate the FTE worked by a part-time or a contract agency employee?

Determine the number of hours worked by the contracted or part-time employee during the week of October 1 (e.g., 5 hours).
Determine the number of hours in your PEA's work week (e.g., 40 hours).
Divide the number of hours worked by the contracted or part-time employee by the number of hours in your PEA's work week (e.g., 5 hours ÷ 40 hours= .125 hours FTE).

What if my question isn’t addressed in the FAQs?

Questions related to troubleshooting technical challenges may be directed to the ESS Inbox. For questions related to the content or intent of a question, please email ESS Recruitment and Retention at [email protected].