Principal Labor Markets: Distance and Time Between Transferring Schools

While a growing body of literature has emphasized conditions surrounding principal turnover, less attention has been given to how within-career sorting has shaped the principal labor market. Given the recent shift towards remote and asynchronous learning platforms, this study is the first to explore how job-to-job transfer distance may shape principal sorting. Using longitudinal administrative data covering every certified principal in Texas over 20 years, we first calculate the driving distance and time for every principal transfer event in the state and determine how transfer distance and time vary by school and principal demographics. We then utilize hierarchical linear modeling to determine which school and principal characteristics are associated with increased transfer distance and driving time. We find that (1) transfer distances increased over time and did so sharply after the Great Recession, (2) White and male principals were more likely to transfer longer distances than females or principals of color, and (3) cost of living change was more associated with distance than salary change. These results add a new dimension to our understanding of the within-career transfer market of principals, pointing to potential differences in opportunity and/or preferences by principal race and sex by both labor market and locale. This study’s findings inform our understanding of the dispersion potentials of the principal labor market, offering insight into where recruitment efforts may be effectively targeted and which incentives may be attractive for hiring.