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The Challenge of Sustaining Effective Teaching: Spillovers, Fade-out, and the Cost-effectiveness of Teacher Development Programs

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  • Cilliers, Jacobus
  • Fleisch, Brahm
  • Kotze, Janeli
  • Mohohlwane, Mpumi
  • Taylor, Stephen

Abstract

The cost-effectiveness of human capital investments depends on their sustained impacts on productivity. We test for this in a randomized evaluation of two teacher professional development programs—Coaching and Training—aimed at improving the teaching of early-grade reading in South Africa. One year after participating in the programs, teachers in both programs retained knowledge and continue using the resources provided by the programs. However, only teachers who received Coaching maintained improved teaching techniques. Moreover, the magnitude of the effects on learning for students taught by teachers one year after program participation—0.11 and 0.19 standard deviations for Training and Coaching, respectively are roughly half the size relative to the first cohort. Given conservative assumptions, we estimate that Training and Coaching are 44 and 55 percent more cost-effective, when considering gains to future cohorts. These results demonstrate that current estimates of the cost-effectiveness of teacher professional development programs are likely under-estimated. But they also suggest that more resources should be dedicated to sustaining initial gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Cilliers, Jacobus & Fleisch, Brahm & Kotze, Janeli & Mohohlwane, Mpumi & Taylor, Stephen, 2022. "The Challenge of Sustaining Effective Teaching: Spillovers, Fade-out, and the Cost-effectiveness of Teacher Development Programs," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:87:y:2022:i:c:s027277572100128x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2021.102215
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    Cited by:

    1. Ali Junaid Khan & Asifa Jahangir & Waseem Ul Hameed & Jawad Iqbal, 2022. "Effective Management: A Catalyst for Organizational Performance," iRASD Journal of Management, International Research Alliance for Sustainable Development (iRASD), vol. 4(2), pages 154-163, june.
    2. Cilliers, Jacobus & Fleisch, Brahm & Kotze, Janeli & Mohohlwane, Nompumelelo & Taylor, Stephen & Thulare, Tsegofatso, 2022. "Can virtual replace in-person coaching? Experimental evidence on teacher professional development and student learning," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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