The labor supply decisions of certified elementary and high school teachers
are examined using data from a general longitudinal survey. A significant
decrease in the teaching participation rate takes place over time after tea
cher certification. Previously unavailable marital and fertility variables
provide new insight into reasons for this decrease. Descriptive statistics
indicate that high-ability teachers choose to teach a smaller proportion of
time than other teachers. A dynamic, discrete-choice model, which accommod
ates Serial Correlation in the wage process for teachers, is used to analyz
e responsiveness of the overall sample and different types of teachers to t
wo potential types of wage increases.