JOURNAL ARTICLE

Principal Labor Markets: Distance and Time Between Transferring Schools.

  • Published In: Journal of Education Human Resources, 2026, v. 44, n. 1. P. 64 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Perrone, Frank; Pendola, Andrew; Fuller, Edward J. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines how job-to-job transfer distance influences principal sorting within the principal labor market, using 20 years of longitudinal administrative data on every certified principal in Texas. It finds that average transfer distances increased over time, notably after the Great Recession, with White and male principals transferring significantly farther than female principals and principals of color. Changes in cost of living between schools were more strongly associated with transfer distance than absolute salary differences, while most school characteristics had little effect on transfer distance. The study highlights spatial disparities in principal mobility shaped by principal demographics and locale, offering insights for targeted recruitment strategies and incentives to improve equity and effectiveness in principal hiring.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Education Human Resources. 2026/01, Vol. 44, Issue 1, p64
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Education
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:2562-783X
  • DOI:10.3138/jehr-2022-0010
  • Accession Number:191107265
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Education Human Resources is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.