Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/45603 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
IWQW Discussion Papers No. 07/2011
Publisher: 
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut für Wirtschaftspolitik und Quantitative Wirtschaftsforschung (IWQW), Nürnberg
Abstract: 
We analyze teacher experience as a moderating factor for the effect of class size reduction on student achievement in the early grades using data from the Tennessee STAR experiment with random assignment of teachers and students to classes of different size. The analysis is motivated by the high costs of class size reductions and the need to identify the circumstances under which this investment is most rewarding. We find a class size effect only for senior teachers. The effect is most pronounced for higher and average-performing students. We further show that senior teachers outperform rookies only in small classes. The results have straightforward policy implications. Interestingly, the class size effect is most likely due to a higher quality of instruction in small classes and not due to less disruptions.
Subjects: 
class size reduction
teacher experience
student achievement
JEL: 
I2
H4
J4
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
364.92 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.