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The Impact of Individual Teachers on Student Achievement: Evidence from Panel Data

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  • Jonah Rockoff

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

Teacher quality is widely believed to be important for education, despite little evidence that teachers' credentials matter for student achievement. To accurately measure variation in achievement due to teachers' characteristics-both observable and unobservable-it is essential to identify teacher fixed effects. Unlike previous studies, I use panel data to estimate teacher fixed effects while controlling for fixed student characteristics and classroom specific variables. I find large and statistically significant differences among teachers: a one standard deviation increase in teacher quality raises reading and math test scores by approximately .20 and .24 standard deviations, respectively, on a nationally standardized scale. In addition, teaching experience has statistically significant positive effects on reading test scores, controlling for fixed teacher quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonah Rockoff, 2003. "The Impact of Individual Teachers on Student Achievement: Evidence from Panel Data," Public Economics 0304002, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwppe:0304002
    Note: Type of Document - Acrobat PDF; prepared on PC; pages: 40; figures: Included
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Asencios, Roger, 2016. "Rendimiento escolar en el Perú: Análisis secuencial de los resultados de la Evaluación Censal de Estudiantes," Working Papers 2016-005, Banco Central de Reserva del Perú.
    2. repec:pri:indrel:dsp01m613mx58m is not listed on IDEAS
    3. De Witte, Kristof & Rogge, Nicky, 2011. "Accounting for exogenous influences in performance evaluations of teachers," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 641-653, August.
    4. Kling, Jeffrey & Liebman, Jeffrey, 2004. "Experimental Analysis of Neighborhood Effects on Youth," Working Paper Series rwp04-034, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    teachers;

    JEL classification:

    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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