tailieunhanh - Teacher Qualifications and Middle School Student Achievement

Teachers with elementary school credentials had slightly better success in the classroom than did teachers with secondary school credentials. (JEL: J44, J45, H0, H75, I21) (Keywords: Teacher quality, teacher licensure, student achievement, middle school, twolevel fixed effects, education production function) | WORKING P A P E R Teacher Qualifications and Middle School Student Achievement RICHARD BUDDIN GEMA ZAMARRO WR-671-IES June 2009 Prepared for the Institute of Education Sciences This product is part of the RAND Education working paper series. RAND working papers are intended to share researchers latest findings and to solicit informal peer review. They have been approved for circulation by RAND Education but have not been formally edited or peer reviewed. Unless otherwise indicated working papers can be quoted and cited without permission of the author provided the source is clearly referred to as a working paper. RAND s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. RAND is a registered trademark. RAND EDUCATION ABSTRACT This research examines whether teacher licensure test scores and other teacher qualifications affect middle school student achievement. The results are based on longitudinal student-level data from Los Angeles. The achievement analysis uses a value-added approach that adjusts for both student and teacher fixed effects. The results show little relationship between traditional measures of teacher quality . experience and education level and student achievement in reading or math. Similarly licensure test scores in general aptitude subject-matter knowledge and reading pedagogy had no significant effects on student achievement. Teachers with elementary school credentials had slightly better success in the classroom than did teachers with secondary school credentials. JEL J44 J45 H0 H75 I21 Keywords Teacher quality teacher licensure student achievement middle school two-level fixed effects education production function .