The realities teachers face in class every day may lag behind the guidance, resources and collaboration they receive to solve challenges. labels this the “expectations gap,” tracking its impact on the use of AI and on how teachers support students academically and in career exploration.
These “unclear and unrealistic” expectations hinder teachers’ ability to thrive and are more evident in high-needs schools, the report by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation reveals. Here are a few numbers highlighted in the survey:
- 46% of teachers say the expectations for excellent teaching are realistic.
- 69% receive no guidance at all about how to apply AI to one-on-one instruction.
- 50% of teachers in high-need schools commonly report a conflict between expectations and reality in student achievement.
Setting realistic expectations is a key way to retain teachers and keep morale high. Teachers who feel the standard for excellent teaching is unattainable are much more likely
to be burned out, disengaged and unsatisfied with work.
About four in 10 teachers said expectations for student achievement “very often鈥 or 鈥渁lways鈥 conflict with the time and resources available to teachers and聽with students鈥 actual circumstances.
AI widens the expectations gap
AI is a major pain point. While many teachers use AI鈥攁nd some use it regularly鈥攍ess than one in five report receiving “formal” guidance from administrators on how to deploy the technology to lesson plan, create assessments and complete administrative tasks
The report defines formal guidance as a written policy and informal guidance as conversations or “shared norms.” “This lack of clarity is leaving many K12 teachers to navigate a rapidly changing technology landscape without support,” the report contends.
Erasing the divide
Some teachers blame communication breakdowns for creating the expectations gap. Only four in 10 teachers rated communication with school leadership as 鈥渧ery good鈥 or 鈥渆xcellent.鈥
“A sustainable teaching career (one that means less turnover for kids and more classes with experienced teachers) isn鈥檛 just about a pay raise or reducing hours,” the report concludes. “It鈥檚 also about giving teachers the conditions they need to do what they came to do鈥攖each effectively, with adequate support, a manageable workload and the right tools for the job.”
K12 navigation: How to prepare your school board for stormy seas聽
