Effect of Receiving Financial Awards on Teachers’ Retention and Attendance Rates and Their Students’ Achievement Gains

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Impacts of Teacher Policies and Reforms in the United States and International Contexts

Abstract

Over $40 million was paid out to employees through Houston Independent School District’s (HISD’s) 2009-10 award program. State and district data on students, teachers, and schools suggests receipt of an award motivates HISD teachers. Net of awards received for the 2008-09 school year, and compared to otherwise similar teachers who did not receive an award for the 2009-10 school year, core teachers who received an award were more likely to be retained in the district by August 2011 and had higher mean student test score gains from 2009-10 to 2010-11 on most standardized tests. Teachers appear to respond more positively to larger than smaller award amounts.

Authors

• Dara Renee Shifrer, Rice University - Kinder Institute

• Ruth Lopez Turley, Rice University

• Holly Heard, Rice University