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Screen Twice, Cut Once: Assessing the Predictive Validity of Applicant Selection Tools

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  • Dan Goldhaber

    (Center for Education Data & Research University of Washington– Bothell Seattle, WA 98103)

  • Cyrus Grout

    (Center for Education Data & Research University of Washington-- Bothell Seattle, WA 98103)

  • Nick Huntington-Klein

    (Department of Economics California State University, Fullerton Fullerton, CA 92831)

Abstract

Despite their widespread use, there is little academic evidence on whether applicant selection instruments can improve teacher hiring. We examine the relationship between two screening instruments used by Spokane Public Schools to select classroom teachers and three teacher outcomes: value added, absences, and attrition. We observe all applicants to the district (not only those who are hired), allowing us to estimate sample selection-corrected models using random tally errors and variation in the level of competition across job postings as instruments. Ratings on the screening instruments significantly predict value added in math and teacher attrition, but not absences—an increase of one standard deviation in screening scores is associated with an increase of about 0.06 standard deviations of student math achievement, and a decrease in teacher attrition of 3 percentage points. Hence the use of selection instruments appears to be a key means of improving the quality of the teacher workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Goldhaber & Cyrus Grout & Nick Huntington-Klein, 2017. "Screen Twice, Cut Once: Assessing the Predictive Validity of Applicant Selection Tools," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 12(2), pages 197-223, Spring.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:edfpol:v:12:y:2017:i:2:p:197-223
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthew A. Kraft & John P. Papay & Olivia L. Chi, 2020. "Teacher Skill Development: Evidence from Performance Ratings by Principals," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(2), pages 315-347, March.
    2. Patrícia Martinková & Dan Goldhaber & Elena Erosheva, 2018. "Disparities in ratings of internal and external applicants: A case for model-based inter-rater reliability," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Brian Jacob & Jonah E. Rockoff & Eric S. Taylor & Benjamin Lindy & Rachel Rosen, 2016. "Teacher Applicant Hiring and Teacher Performance: Evidence from DC Public Schools," NBER Working Papers 22054, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Brutti, Zelda & Sánchez Torres, Fabio, 2022. "Turning around teacher quality in Latin America: Renewed confidence and lessons from Colombia," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 62-93.
    5. Dan Goldhaber, 2018. "Impact and Your Death Bed: Playing the Long Game," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 13(1), pages 1-18, Winter.
    6. Thijssen, Maximiliaan W.P. & Rege, Mari & Solheim, Oddny J., 2022. "Teacher relationship skills and student learning," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Jessalynn James & Matthew A. Kraft & John P. Papay, 2023. "Local supply, temporal dynamics, and unrealized potential in teacher hiring," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(4), pages 1010-1044, September.
    8. Jacob, Brian A. & Rockoff, Jonah E. & Taylor, Eric S. & Lindy, Benjamin & Rosen, Rachel, 2018. "Teacher applicant hiring and teacher performance: Evidence from DC public schools," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 81-97.
    9. Goldhaber, Dan & Grout, Cyrus & Wolff, Malcolm & Martinková, Patrícia, 2021. "Evidence on the Dimensionality and Reliability of Professional References’ Ratings of Teacher Applicants," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

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