Download Brief
Published:
July 2019
Authors:
Lam Pham
Gary T. Henry
Adam Kho
Ron Zimmer
Key Findings
- Averaging across all subjects in all years of intervention, iZone interventions have positive and statistically significant effects in math and science. In reading, the average effect is smaller and borderline in terms of statistical significance.
- Moderate to large positive and statistically significant effects for iZone schools in the first two years of turnaround largely drive the overall effects.
- Overall, ASD schools perform no better or worse than comparison schools in any subject or any cohort throughout the six year period.
- The effects of individual cohorts of ASD and iZone schools vary considerably with positive effects for the first two cohorts of iZone schools, negative results for the fifth cohort, and negative results for the second cohort of ASD schools. Our descriptive evidence suggests that negative effects in the fifth cohort of iZone schools may be driven by decreased effectiveness among incoming teachers.
Methods
This analysis uses a difference-in-difference (DID) approach to compare the changes in test scores from the baseline year in the ASD and iZone schools to the scores after they initiated reforms with the changes in test scores during the same period in the other Priority schools that did not receive a reform. The data include student- and teacher-level demographic characteristics, student test scores from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), End of Course Exams (EOCs), and TNReady, and school enrollment data from 2006-2007 to 2017-2018.
Related Content
- Brief - Guiding Principles for Improving the Lowest-Performing Schools in Tennessee
- Brief - How Has iZone Teacher Recruitment Affected the Performance of Other Schools?
- Brief - Driving Improvement in Low-performing Schools: Lessons from Five Years of Research on State Turnaround Efforts
- Brief - School Turnaround After Five Years: An Extended Evaluation of Tennessee's Achievement School District and Local Innovation Zones
- Podcast - The TNth Period Episode 5 - School Turnaround After Five Year
