An educator’s experience teaching math is important, but performance on math-content-certification tests is the best predictor of how well a teacher’s students will perform in early algebra, finds a new study by the Regional Educational Laboratory Central at Marzano Research.
Researchers analyzed the qualifications of middle school Algebra 1 teachers in Missouri, along with their students’ math performance. They found educators’ performance on math-certification tests and the number of years they taught math (though not teaching in general) strongly predicted how well their students would perform in Algebra 1, especially for black and Hispanic students, low-income students, and those with disabilities.
