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Prof. Steven Rivkin

The University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

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Authors: Eric A. Hanushek, Andrew Morgan, Steven G. Rivkin, Lauren Sartain, and Jeffrey C. Schiman

Abstract: Evidence that teacher effects on both cognitive and non-cognitive skills contribute to longer-term academic, social and labor-market outcomes highlights potential limitations of a singular focus on achievement and the importance of measuring and identifying educator effects on the development of a range of skills. This likely holds even more for school leaders than for teachers, and in this study, we use administrative longitudinal data from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the state of Texas to estimate elementary and middle-school principal effects on cognitive and non-cognitive skills and on longer-term outcomes. The panel data sets that span roughly twenty years each enable us to account for observed and unobserved influences by focusing on comparisons between two principals who served at the same school and students from different schools who attend the same high school. The preliminary estimates reveal substantial variation in principal effects on current achievement, achievement, absences and disciplinary infractions during high school, and on college attendance and persistence and the probability of being in college or employed following high school graduation. In the case of Texas middle schools, it appears that effects are much stronger for lower-achievement students. The strong correlations principal effects on 9thgrade absences and effect on the probability of being in school or employed following high school highlights the importance of considering and measuring effects on both cognitive and non-cognitive skills.
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Full Text:  “Elementary and Middle School Principal Effects on Future Academic, Behavioral and Labor-Market Outcomes”

Come to see high school students from 15 different schools presenting their group projects in applied economics and receiving feedback from CERGE-EI researchers and alumni. This evening will complete the third season of the free 12-weeks program.

Reseach topics from which students could choose this year were: Returns to education, Electoral participation among various age groups, Determinants of Health Outcomes, Has communism eradicated the entrepreneurial spirit? and Who will be your next mayor?

Projects in Applied Economics are fully organized and hosted by CERGE-EI, and supported by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. During the program, students get a unique opportunity not only to learn, but also to apply research methods under the supervision of young and well-experienced researchers. They explore selected economics topics using real data, enter an international academic circle, and get feedback on their work as well as suggestions for theirfuture activities. Last, but not least: a special prize is awarded to the group that provides the best research work.

More details and last year′s video at: www.cerge-ei.cz/highschoolers