Music education researchers have identified a variety of personal, school, and external or policy factors related to music teacher retention and attrition. These factors represent a broad range of research; however, they have not been examined in combination. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and summarize the personal, school, and external or policy factors that influence the retention and attrition rates of music educators. A total of 25 publications met the inclusion criteria (e.g., published between 1992 and 2022; referenced inservice music educators). Personal factors such as career satisfaction, school factors including administrative support, and external or policy factors including salary appear to contribute to music educators’ career decisions. I identified gaps in the literature, including a lack of literature examining movers, the lack of an operational definition for administrative support, and the need for data regarding teacher evaluation and salary to advocate for future policy development.
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