RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Teacher Credentials and Student Achievement in High School
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 655
OP 681
DO 10.3368/jhr.45.3.655
VO 45
IS 3
A1 Charles T. Clotfelter
A1 Helen F. Ladd
A1 Jacob L. Vigdor
YR 2010
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/45/3/655.abstract
AB We use data on statewide end-of-course tests in North Carolina to examine the relationship between teacher credentials and student achievement at the high school level. We find compelling evidence that teacher credentials, particularly licensure and certification, affects student achievement in systematic ways and that the magnitudes are large enough to be policy relevant. Our findings imply that the uneven distribution of teacher credentials by race and socioeconomic status of high school students—a pattern we also document—contributes to achievement gaps in high school. In addition, some troubling findings emerge related to the gender and race of the teachers.