Paper Summary

School Incentives, Principal Characteristics, and Teacher Assignment

Mon, April 16, 8:15 to 9:45am, Vancouver Convention Centre, Floor: First Level, East Ballroom B

Abstract

Ten years after the passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, there is little evidence on how accountability affects school staffing decisions, teacher effectiveness and teacher assignment. This paper focuses on the sanctions and rewards scheme under NCLB and provides the first causal evidence on the impacts of accountability on teacher assignment within schools. Using micro-data from the universe of all principals, teachers and students in Florida elementary schools from 2000 to 2005 school year, this paper employs a regression discontinuity method to estimate the causal impacts of getting an A or F grade on teacher assignment within schools. It also explores the effects of principal characteristics on teacher assignment and the heterogeneity across schools.

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