WWC review of this study

Teacher Incentives and Student Achievement: Evidence from New York City Public Schools. NBER Working Paper No. 16850

Fryer, Roland G. (2011). National Bureau of Economic Research. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED517012

  • Randomized controlled trial
     examining 
    176,387
     Students
    , grades
    K-12

Reviewed: September 2013

No statistically significant positive
findings
Meets WWC standards without reservations
Completing school outcomes—Statistically significant negative effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

4-year graduation rate

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. business as usual

07-08 and 08-09 year

High schools;
27,995 students

0.55

0.58

No

--
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Statistically significant negative effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

New York State Math Achievement Test

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. Business as usual

End of Year 07-08 and 08-09

Elementary schools;
176,387 students

-0.44

-0.42

No

--

New York State Math Achievement Test

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. business as usual

End of Year 07-08 and 08-09

Middle schools;
147,493 students

-0.58

-0.54

Yes

-2
 
 
Reading achievement outcomes—Statistically significant negative effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

New York State English Language Arts (ELA) Achievement Test

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. Business as usual

start of 08-09 and 09-10 year

Elementary schools;
175,894 students

-0.38

-0.36

No

--

New York State English Language Arts (ELA) Achievement Test

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. business as usual

start of 08-09 and 09-10 year

Middle schools;
147,141 students

-0.56

-0.53

Yes

-2
 
 
Teacher attendance outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Personal absences

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. business as usual

07-08 and 08-09 year

K-8 teachers;
3,977 students

8.03

7.42

No

--

Personal absences

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. Business as usual

07-08 and 08-09 year

Elementary school teachers;
18,543 students

7.85

7.57

No

--

Personal absences

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. business as usual

07-08 and 08-09 year

Middle school teachers;
6,727 students

7.47

7.91

No

--
Teacher retention outcomes—Statistically significant negative effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

School retention

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. business as usual

start of 08-09 and 09-10 year

K-8 school teachers;
4,693 students

0.79

0.79

No

--

School retention

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. Business as usual

start of 08-09 and 09-10 year

Elementary school teachers;
21,700 students

0.81

0.82

No

--

School retention

New York City's Schoolwide Performance Bonus Program vs. business as usual

start of 08-09 and 09-10 year

Middle school teachers;
8,289 students

0.73

0.76

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • 19% English language learners

  • Female: 48%
    Male: 52%

  • Urban
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    New York
  • Race
    Asian
    2%
    Black
    41%
    Other or unknown
    1%
    White
    1%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    55%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    45%
 

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This download will include data files for study and findings review data and a data dictionary.

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