Exploring Race and Gender Gaps in Classroom Observation Scores in Tennessee

Key Findings

• Black teachers and male teachers in Tennessee consistently receive lower classroom observation scores than their White and female peers each year, across every observation system (e.g. COACH, TEAM), and at every school level.
• Black teachers and male teachers receive systematically lower observation scores than their White and female peers even when they have similar qualifications and their students achieve similar test scores and other outcomes.
• While we have few clues as to what could be driving the gender gap in observation scores, the magnitude of the race gap is influenced by several factors. These include the racial composition of the school's faculty, the differing characteristics of students who are assigned to Black and White teachers, and the race of the teacher's observer.