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On Educational Performance Measures

Author

Listed:
  • Muriel, Alastair

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies, London)

  • Smith, Jeffrey A.

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Abstract

Quantitative school performance measures (QPMs) are playing an ever larger role in education systems on both sides of the Atlantic. In this paper we outline the rationale for the use of such measures in education, review the literature relating to several important problems associated with their use, and argue that they nonetheless have a positive role to play in improving the educational quality. We delineate several institutional reforms which would help schools to respond "positively" to QPMs, emphasizing the importance of agents' flexibility to change the way they work, and the importance of a sound knowledge base regarding "what works" in raising attainment. We suggest that the present institutional setups in both England and the US too often hold schools accountable for outcomes over which they have little control – but that such problems are far from insurmountable.

Suggested Citation

  • Muriel, Alastair & Smith, Jeffrey A., 2011. "On Educational Performance Measures," IZA Discussion Papers 5897, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5897
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steven G. Rivkin & Eric A. Hanushek & John F. Kain, 2005. "Teachers, Schools, and Academic Achievement," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 73(2), pages 417-458, March.
    2. Jonah E. Rockoff & Cecilia Speroni, 2010. "Subjective and Objective Evaluations of Teacher Effectiveness," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(2), pages 261-266, May.
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    6. Helen Slater & Neil M. Davies & Simon Burgess, 2012. "Do Teachers Matter? Measuring the Variation in Teacher Effectiveness in England," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 74(5), pages 629-645, October.
    7. Jesse Rothstein, 2010. "Teacher Quality in Educational Production: Tracking, Decay, and Student Achievement," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 125(1), pages 175-214.
    8. Derek Neal & Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, 2010. "Left Behind by Design: Proficiency Counts and Test-Based Accountability," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 92(2), pages 263-283, May.
    9. Deborah Wilson & Anete Piebalga, 2008. "Accurate performance measure but meaningless ranking exercise? An analysis of the English school league tables," The Centre for Market and Public Organisation 07/176, The Centre for Market and Public Organisation, University of Bristol, UK.
    10. Jonah E. Rockoff & Brian A. Jacob & Thomas J. Kane & Douglas O. Staiger, 2011. "Can You Recognize an Effective Teacher When You Recruit One?," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 6(1), pages 43-74, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Veronica Minaya & Judith Scott-Clayton, 2018. "Labor Market Outcomes and Postsecondary Accountability: Are Imperfect Metrics Better Than None?," NBER Chapters, in: Productivity in Higher Education, pages 67-104, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Stephen Machin & Sandra McNally & Gill Wyness, 2013. "Education in a Devolved Scotland: A Quantitative Analysis," CEP Reports 30, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    3. Milawati Milawati & Abdul Rozak Fahrudin, 2021. "How is the Performance of Education in Indonesia?," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 11(1), pages 29-35.
    4. Ghulam Qambar & Muhammad Tahir Khan Farooqi & Hafiz Muhammad Ather, 2018. "Impact of District Ranking System on Students Achievement Score in PEC Exams," Global Social Sciences Review, Humanity Only, vol. 3(1), pages 243-262, March.
    5. Veronica Minaya & Judith Scott-Clayton, 2016. "Labor Market Outcomes and Postsecondary Accountability: Are Imperfect Metrics Better than None?," NBER Working Papers 22880, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    performance measures; education incentives; school quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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