Validating Teacher Effect Estimates Using Changes in Teacher Assignments in Los Angeles / Andrew Bacher-Hicks, Thomas J. Kane, Douglas O. Staiger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bacher-Hicks, Andrew.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Kane, Thomas J.

Staiger, Douglas O.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w20657.

NBER working paper series no. w20657

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2014.

Summary:

In a widely cited study, Chetty, Friedman, and Rockoff (2014a; hereafter CFR) evaluate the degree of bias in teacher value-added estimates using a novel "teacher switching" research design with data from New York City. They conclude that there is little to no bias in their estimates. Using the same model with data from North Carolina, Rothstein (2014) argued that the CFR research design is invalid, given a relationship between student baseline test scores and teachers' value-added. In this paper, we replicated the CFR analysis using data from the Los Angeles Unified School District and similarly found that teacher value-added estimates were valid predictors of student achievement. We also demonstrate that Rothstein's test does not invalidate the CFR design and instead reflects a mechanical relationship, given that teacher value-added scores from prior years and baseline test scores can be based on the same data. In addition, we explore the (1) predictive validity of value-added estimates drawn from the same, similar, and different schools, (2) an alternative way of estimating differences in access to effective teaching by taking teacher experience into account, and (3) the implications of alternative ways of imputing value-added when it cannot be estimated directly.

Notes:

Print version record

November 2014.