Issues and Problems of Value Added Modeling in Particular Applications

Research Assistant: Hua Wei

Value added modeling is standard methodology to measure school or teacher effects on student learning, after controlling for the student variables including prior attainment and background characteristics and school or teacher level variables such as socioeconomic factors and community environments. However, the accuracy of these value added measures is rarely investigated. In this study, the strengths and problems of value-added modeling are going to be investiated in terms of their ability to produce accurate estimates of school and teacher effects.