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An experimental evaluation of three teacher quality measures: Value-added, classroom observations, and student surveys

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  • Bacher-Hicks, Andrew
  • Chin, Mark J.
  • Kane, Thomas J.
  • Staiger, Douglas O.

Abstract

Nearly every state evaluates teacher performance using multiple measures, but evidence has largely shown that only one such measure—teachers’ effects on student achievement (i.e., value-added)—captures teachers’ causal effects. We conducted a random assignment experiment in 66 fourth- and fifth-grade mathematics classrooms to evaluate the predictive validity of three measures of teacher performance: value-added, classroom observations, and student surveys. Combining our results with those from two previous random assignment experiments, we provide additional experimental evidence that value-added measures are unbiased predictors of teacher performance. Though results for the other two measures are less precise, we find that classroom observation scores are predictive of teachers’ performance after random assignment while student surveys are not. These results thus lend support to teacher evaluation systems that use value-added and classroom observations, but suggest practitioners should proceed with caution when considering student survey measures for teacher evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Bacher-Hicks, Andrew & Chin, Mark J. & Kane, Thomas J. & Staiger, Douglas O., 2019. "An experimental evaluation of three teacher quality measures: Value-added, classroom observations, and student surveys," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:73:y:2019:i:c:s0272775719302717
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2019.101919
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaopeng Wu & Tianshu Xu & Jincheng Zhou, 2022. "Sustainability of Evaluation: The Origin and Development of Value-Added Evaluation from the Global Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Araujo, Maria Daniela & Heineck, Guido & Cruz Aguayo, Yyannu, 2020. "Does Test-Based Teacher Recruitment Work in the Developing World? Experimental Evidence from Ecuador," IZA Discussion Papers 13830, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Araujo P., Maria Daniela & Quis, Johanna Sophie, 2021. "Parents can tell! Evidence on classroom quality differences in German primary schools," BERG Working Paper Series 172, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.
    4. Christine Mulhern & Isaac M. Opper, 2021. "Measuring and Summarizing the Multiple Dimensions of Teacher Effectiveness," CESifo Working Paper Series 9263, CESifo.
    5. Bruhn, Jesse & Imberman, Scott & Winters, Marcus, 2022. "Regulatory arbitrage in teacher hiring and retention: Evidence from Massachusetts Charter Schools," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    6. Filmer,Deon P. & Molina,Ezequiel & Wane,Waly, 2020. "Identifying Effective Teachers : Lessons from Four Classroom Observation Tools," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9365, The World Bank.
    7. Araujo P., María Daniela & Quis, Johanna Sophie, 2021. "Teacher Effects in Germany: Evidence from Elementary School," VfS Annual Conference 2021 (Virtual Conference): Climate Economics 242457, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Teacher evaluation; Value-added; Classroom observation; Randomized experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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