How Does Experience Matter? Effects of Teacher Course-Specific Experience on Student Achievement

• In Event: Roundtable Session 100
  In Roundtable Session: Policy Issues Related to Teacher Knowledge and Certification

Abstract

Research consistently finds that teachers account for gains in students' academic achievement. Teacher experience is one of the few observable measures that affect student outcomes. Research suggests that experience increases teacher productivity. Little research has attempted to address how teacher experience affects student achievement. This paper focuses on whether course-specific teacher experience could be one mechanism by which experience matters.
While general experience increases with each passing year, course-specific experience only increases when a teacher teaches the same course. Course-specific experience improves student outcomes, and increases teacher productivity, efficiently allocating scarce school resources. Using quantitative research methods to address this question, the data suggest that teacher course assignment over time matters to student achievement.

Author

• Rachel Feldman, University of Wisconsin - Madison