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Walton Gen Z Education > Top Card > Teaching for Tomorrow: Staying Power >  2026-03 [UPDATE]

Walton Family Foundation Educator Research

The Walton Family Foundation and Gallup have partnered to study the experiences of U.S. K-12 teachers.

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Teaching for Tomorrow: Staying Power

After a year of tracking teacher experiences through the Teaching for Tomorrow study, Walton Family Foundation and Gallup’s newest report examines the financial realities shaping teachers’ ability to sustain long-term careers in K-12 education. While most teachers report high job satisfaction, affordability remains a pressing concern. One in five teachers say they find it difficult to get by on their household income, and more than half say they are just getting by. Financial strain is closely tied to taking second jobs and to higher levels of burnout.

At the same time, most teachers aspire to stay in the profession, with two-thirds planning to remain in K-12 education for the rest of their careers.

Download the full report to uncover opportunities for school leaders and policymakers to better support teachers in building sustainable, long-term careers in education.

1 in 5 teachers (21%) find it difficult to get by on their household income.
67% of teachers plan to stay in K-12 education for the rest of their careers.
33% of teachers say that in the past year they’ve held an additional job or gig that is not related to their teaching job.
Walton Family Foundation-Gallup Research

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The Walton Family Foundation and Gallup are systematically capturing attitudes, opinions and experiences among and related to American youth.

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