The Science of Using Student Perception Surveys for Teacher Evaluation in Primary and Secondary Schools

• In Event: 33.043 - The Science of Teacher Evaluation: Implications for Practice

Abstract

Surveys of student perceptions of classroom environments have become increasing popular in recent years as policy makers look for new ways to assess teachers beyond test scores and observations. This paper describes the science of using student perception surveys for the assessment of teachers in primary and secondary schools using the Tripod survey as an example. We describe how to calculate the reliability of surveys at the student, teacher, and school levels, and how reliability responds to changes in survey construction and classroom sample sizes. We explore how reliability and teacher rankings change depending on whether researchers use within- or between-school model specifications. Finally, we assess the predictive validity of the survey in terms of value-added achievement test outcomes.

Authors

• Marshall Jean, University of Chicago

• Daniel M. Kimmel, Yeshiva University

• Stephen W. Raudenbush, University of Chicago