Teaching Makes A Difference Michael Allen, Ph.D. Program Director Education Commission of the States March 14, 2002 Little Rock, Arkansas

Source: Ronald F. Ferguson, “Paying for Public Education: New Evidence of How and Why Money Matters,” 1991 (Interpretation) Proportion of Explained Variance in Math Test Score Gains in Texas from Grades 3 to 5 Influence of Various Factors on Student Achievement

Impact of Effective vs. Ineffective Teachers on Low-Performing Students With Ineffective Teacher With Effective Teacher Source: William Sanders and Joan Rivers, “Cumulative and Residual Effects of Teachers on Future Student Academic Achievement,” 1996 Average Student Gains Over One Year (Tennessee)

Boston Students with Effective Teachers Showed Greater Gains in Math and Reading Source: Boston Public Schools, in “High School Restructuring,” March 9, (courtesy of The Education Trust) READINGMATH

Cumulative Impact of Effective vs. Ineffective Teachers Beginning 3rd Grade Score (57%) Average Percentile Reading Score of Dallas Students at end of 5th Grade Source: Heather Jordan & Dash Weerasinghe, “Teacher Effects on Longitudinal Student Achievement,” 1997

Cumulative Impact of Effective vs. Ineffective Teachers—Tennessee With 3 Very Ineffective Teachers With 3 Very Effective Teachers Source: Sanders and Rivers, “Cumulative and Residual Effects of Teachers on Future Student Academic Achievement,” 1996 Student Gains in Math Scores Over 3 Years (Grades 3-5)

What Makes A Teacher Effective?  Strong verbal and math skills  Solid knowledge of subject matter  Ability to respond to the specific learning needs and circumstances of students

Percentage Nationally of Secondary School Teachers Lacking a Major or Minor in Their Teaching Field Source: Richard Ingersoll, “The Problem of Underqualified Teachers in American Secondary Schools,” 1999

Teacher Qualifications in Affluent vs. High Poverty High Schools Percent of Teachers Lacking a Major or Minor in Their Teaching Field Source: Richard Ingersoll, “The Problem of Underqualified Teachers in American Secondary Schools,” 1999