Work

Differential Responses to Teacher Evaluation Incentives: Expectancy, Race, Experience, and Task

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Teacher evaluation systems and their associated incentives have produced fairly mixed results. Our analyses are motivated by theory and descriptive evidence that accountability systems are highly racialized, and that individuals are less likely to respond to incentives when they have low expectations of success (and vice versa). Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that Black novices in the District of Columbia Public Schools faced the most negative consequences (dismissal threats) and the least benefits (salary incentives), without responding to either. White novices, in contrast, exhibited high expectations of success and large behavior changes, particularly in response to dismissal threats (0.6 SD ). We also find some evidence of heterogeneity in effects by task difficulty, often used as a proxy for expectancy, though these differences are less stark.

Source: Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis

DOI: 10.3102/01623737241298666

Authors: David Blazar, Melinda Adnot, Max Anthenelli, Xinyi Zhong

Institutions: University of Maryland, College Park, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: School Choice and Performance

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Quality education

Open Access status: green

Funder: Institute of Education Sciences