McREL will analyze NAEP data to identify traits of effective teachers
April 27, 2005
Aurora, Colo. — Mid-continent
Research for Education and Learning (McREL) received a $100,000,
18-month grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute
for Education Sciences to conduct an analysis of national assessment
data to identify teacher characteristics that are related to student
achievement in math..
McREL, a nonprofit education research and development organization based in Aurora, Colo. will compare teacher characteristics with student results on the mathematics portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called the "nation's report card."
The goal of the study is to examine the relationship between aspects of teacher quality and student achievement and to highlight which teacher characteristics have the potential to impact achievement of students who struggle academically as a result of their socio-economic status, limited English proficiency, or residence in areas with teacher shortages (namely rural locations). Specifically, McREL researchers will investigate the following questions:
1. Which characteristics of highly qualified teachers are related to student achievement in mathematics?
2. To what extent does the presence of a high-quality teacher mitigate the relationship between student characteristics (e.g., socio-economic status, ethnicity, and English Language Learner status) and student achievement in mathematics?
3. Which groups of students are most likely to have access to teachers exhibiting these characteristics?
"Researchers, educators, and policymakers have long known that teacher quality matters," said Kerry Englert, a McREL senior evaluator and principal investigator for this study. "As a result, the No Child Left Behind Act rightly focuses on ensuring that all students be taught by 'highly qualified' teachers. Yet it remains unclear exactly which traits of 'highly qualified teachers' - such as their years of experience, content knowledge, or pedagogical training - have the greatest potential to influence student achievement. Through this analysis, we are hoping to move toward more accurately identify what it takes to be an effective teacher in order to guide teacher preparation, licensure, and professional development policies."
McREL researchers will release findings from this study in 2006.
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McREL is a nationally recognized, private, nonprofit organization
located in Aurora, Colo., dedicated to improving education for
all students through applied research, product development and
service. Its staff of highly respected educators and researchers
focuses on providing educators and policymakers with the highest
quality, field-tested, research-based products and services available
in PreK–16 education.
