Examining the Relationship between Student Achievement and Observable Teacher Characteristics: Implications for School Leaders

Summary

The literature on effective schools emphasizes teacher quality as a critical input for improving student outcomes. Teacher certification status, years of experience and possession of a graduate degree are three factors commonly taken into consideration when assessing teacher quality. With the advent of advanced measurement tools, however, principals and other school leaders have an additional means to assess teacher quality. Rigorous evidence is assessed to determine the potential merits of value-added measurement tools to assist principals in developing teacher talent and making staffing assignment, development, and retention decisions. FULL MANUSCRIPT AVAILABLE AT: http://cnx.org/content/m44965/latest/