Missouri's Teacher Career Ladder program has at most a very small positive effect on student test scores¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 2 studies · 2 causal r? · q2
Currency · newest study 2009 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? If the Career Ladder has a positive effect on test scores, it is likely to be very small, with estimated effects ranging from small positive effects to no effect. → Kevin Booker 2008

q2 i? Estimated effects of the Missouri Career Ladder program on district math and reading achievement range from small positive effects to no effect in both subjects. → Kevin Booker 2009

Evidence¶

Kevin Booker 2008¶

Kevin Booker, Steven Glazerman. (2008). Missouri's Teacher Career Ladder Program. Nashville, TN: National Center on Performance Incentives Conference. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/missouris-teacher-career-ladder-program

q2 · i? · causal · r?

Quasi-experimental matched comparison of 524 Missouri school districts over a nine-year period, using longitudinal data on district math and reading scores; "estimated effects range from small positive effects to no effect."

"The paper compares achievement levels in participating districts with those of a matched group of nonparticipating districts. The estimated effects range from small positive effects to no effect."

Kevin Booker 2009¶

Kevin Booker, Steven Glazerman. (2009). Does the Missouri Teacher Career Ladder Program Raise Student Achievement? Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/does-the-missouri-teacher-career-ladder-program-raise-student-achievement

q2 · i? · causal · r?

Statewide longitudinal analysis of district math and reading scores for 524 Missouri school districts over a nine-year period. The article reports that the estimated effects of the Career Ladder program "range from small positive effects to no effect in both math and reading." No effect sizes or test statistics are printed on the page.

"The estimated effects of the Career Ladder program range from small positive effects to no effect in both math and reading."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• After three years of Teacher Incentive Fund implementation, pay-for-performance bonuses had small positive impacts on student math and reading achievement in ten evaluation districts — related
• One year of teaching-effectiveness differences is estimated to represent 4 percent of the existing reading achievement gap and 2 to 3 percent of the math gap — related
• School district participation in the Missouri Career Ladder Program tends to increase teacher retention in the district and the profession, especially for mid-career teachers — related
• The program's achievement effects were estimated statewide using nine years of longitudinal math and reading scores from 524 Missouri school districts — related
• Small career-ladder bonuses can affect teacher behavior without necessarily producing large effects — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)