Recruiting High-Quality Teachers Using Service Scholarships: Who Enrolled, How They Learned, and How Effective They Are

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 2:30 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Developing Global Engagement in Teacher Education and the Meaning of Teacher Preparation (Table 29)

Abstract

This study explores the impact of the Free Teacher Education (FTE) scholarship program in China, designed to attract high-performing high school graduates to teaching. Our findings indicate that the FTE scholarship successfully draws students with stronger pre-college academic abilities and higher determination to become teachers. FTE students excel in college, completing more teaching-related credits and outperforming non-incentive peers in teaching majors. While most FTE students become teachers, they are less likely to work in high-need areas. Having more FTE teachers is moderately linked to improved school performance. However, FTE teachers experience higher professional burnout despite their higher effectiveness. These results highlight the efficacy of the service scholarship in attracting high-performing individuals to the teaching profession and supporting their education.

Authors

• Yan Shi, Northeast Normal University

• Qi Zheng, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Xin Xie, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Xinliang Zhang, Nanjing Normal University

• Xiaoyang Ye, Brown University