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Does the Precision and Stability of Value-Added Estimates of Teacher Performance Depend on the Types of Students They Serve?

Author

Listed:
  • Stacy, Brian

    (World Bank)

  • Guarino, Cassandra M.

    (University of California, Riverside)

  • Reckase, Mark D.

    (Michigan State University)

  • Wooldridge, Jeffrey M.

    (Michigan State University)

Abstract

This paper investigates how the precision and stability of a teacher's value-added estimate relates to the characteristics of the teacher's students. Using a large administrative data set and a variety of teacher value-added estimators, it finds that the stability over time of teacher value-added estimates can depend on the previous achievement level of a teacher's students. The differences are large in magnitude and statistically significant. The year-to-year stability level of teacher value-added estimates are typically 25% to more than 50% larger for teachers serving initially higher performing students compared to teachers with initially lower performing students. In addition, some differences are detected even when the number of student observations is artificially set to the same level and the data are pooled across two years to compute teacher value-added. Finally, the paper offers a policy simulation which demonstrates that teachers who face students with certain characteristics may be differentially likely to be the recipient of sanctions in a high stakes policy based on value-added estimates and more likely to see their estimates vary from year-to-year due to low stability.

Suggested Citation

  • Stacy, Brian & Guarino, Cassandra M. & Reckase, Mark D. & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 2013. "Does the Precision and Stability of Value-Added Estimates of Teacher Performance Depend on the Types of Students They Serve?," IZA Discussion Papers 7676, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7676
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Aucejo, Esteban M. & Coate, Patrick & Fruehwirth, Jane Cooley & Kelly, Sean & Mozenter, Zachary, 2018. "Teacher effectiveness and classroom composition," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 91696, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Cory Koedel & Jiaxi Li, 2016. "The Efficiency Implications Of Using Proportional Evaluations To Shape The Teaching Workforce," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 34(1), pages 47-62, January.
    3. repec:mpr:mprres:7748 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Elias Walsh & Stephen Lipscomb, "undated". "Classroom Observations from Phase 2 of the Pennsylvania Teacher Evaluation Pilot: Assessing Internal Consistency, Score Variation, and Relationships with Value Added," Mathematica Policy Research Reports a6b29a4a217f42a09d5206cfe, Mathematica Policy Research.
    5. Eric Parsons & Cory Koedel & Li Tan, 2019. "Accounting for Student Disadvantage in Value-Added Models," Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, , vol. 44(2), pages 144-179, April.
    6. Oketch, Moses & Rolleston, Caine & Rossiter, Jack, 2021. "Diagnosing the learning crisis: What can value-added analysis contribute?," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    7. Mariesa Herrmann & Elias Walsh & Eric Isenberg & Alexandra Resch, 2013. "Shrinkage of Value-Added Estimates and Characteristics of Students with Hard-to-Predict Achievement Levels," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 2b140369be0242ac83eeb5b0a, Mathematica Policy Research.
    8. repec:mpr:mprres:7817 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Backes, Ben & Cowan, James & Goldhaber, Dan & Koedel, Cory & Miller, Luke C. & Xu, Zeyu, 2018. "The common core conundrum: To what extent should we worry that changes to assessments will affect test-based measures of teacher performance?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 48-65.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    teacher quality; teacher labor markets; value-added; education; teacher performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets

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