Multilevel Linkages Between State Standards, Teacher Standards, and Student Achievement: Testing External Versus Internal Standards-Based Education Models

Publication Date

2014

Description

Drawing on national and state assessment datasets in reading and math, this study tested external versus internal standards-based education models. The goal was to understand whether and how student performance standards work in multilayered school systems under No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Under the external model, states' common standards shape teachers' standards which, in turn, affect student achievement. Under the internal model, teacher standards are insulated from state standards but instead influenced by prior student achievement and background characteristics in classrooms. The study employed multilevel analysis and instrumental variable analysis with fixed effects. Findings provided support for the internal as opposed to the external model. The linkage between state standards and teacher standards was tenuous, whereas the linkage between teacher standards and student achievement was solid and reciprocal. Further, students' gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) had direct and/or indirect influences on teacher standards through achievement gaps. Implications for research and policy were discussed.

Journal

Educational Policy

Volume

28

Issue

6

First Page

780

Last Page

811

DOI

10.1177/0895904813475708

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