Jd. Angrist et V. Lavy, Does teacher training affect pupil learning? Evidence from matched comparisons in Jerusalem public schools, J LABOR EC, 19(2), 2001, pp. 343-369
Most research on the relationship between teacher characteristics and pupil
achievement focuses on salaries, experience, and education. The effect of
in-service training has received less attention. We estimate the effect of
in-service teacher training on achievement in Jerusalem elementary schools
using a matched-comparison design. Differences-in-differences, regression,
and matching estimates suggest training in secular schools led to an improv
ement in test scores. The estimates for religious schools are not clear cut
, perhaps because training in religious schools started later and was imple
mented on a smaller scale. Estimates for secular schools suggest teacher tr
aining provided a cost-effective means of increasing test scores.