Pay Teachers More If Students Learn More

A new study done by an economist at University of
California, Riverside shows that teacher incentive programs can lead to better
performance of children and also be cost-effeictive.
The study was done by Ozkan
Eren, an associate professor Economics at UC Riverside which examined a hybrid
teacher incentive program that combines individual and group incentives called
the Teacher Advancement Program or Tap. Under this scheme, clusters of less
experienced teachers meet daily with highly skilled teachers to learn new
instructional strategies and receive individual coaching. Multiple evaluations
are carried out and at the end of the school year, the additional compensation
is based on their teaching performance as well as their student's performance.
Eren examined student data of
40 schools in state of Louisiana that implemented TAP from 2005-11. It was
found that program benefits exceeded costs. The total average cost of TAP was
approximately $350 to 400 per student.
Eren used a standard formula to
estimate future earnings based on the assumption that only a quarter of the
test score gain reflects real learning and found that TAP could result in a
rise in potential earnings of about $945,000 per school year for math. This was
cost-effective even if only math test scores improved.
The study concluded that a
hybrid structure involving both individual and group incentives can have good
results. Multiple and understandable performance metrics, combined with regular
feedback to teachers, may also make incentive programs more effective. Finally,
rewards should be strong enough to entice teachers to adjust their teaching
practices.
Source: https://tinyurl.com/y69ur7nj
RECOMMENDED NEWS