31st Annual Student Research Conference
Revitalizing Elementary Education: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Merit-based Teacher Advancement Programs (TAP) on Elementary Education
Kyle A. Trojahn
Dr. John Quinn, Faculty Mentor
The Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) is an integrated merit-pay system that provides teachers the opportunity for increased pay in relation to student performance on standardized exams. After being given a $57,000,000 TIF Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Texas implemented TAP programs in 20 public elementary schools at the start of the 2013-2014 school year. I hypothesize that if TAP programs are implemented in elementary-level Texas public schools, there will be an increase in students’ overall academic performance. This is because TAP programs provide the tools and financial incentives for teachers to find ways to improve the performance of their students. Twenty non-TAP, Texan elementary schools were randomly selected for relative comparison in this study. An Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) linear regression model was used for the purpose of this analysis, and the design of this cohort study is cross-sectional and longitudinal in nature.
Keywords: education, merit pay, tap, teacher education, texas, elementary, public school, Department of Education
Topic(s):Political Science
Education
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 209-2
Location: VH 1212
Time: 9:45