Teaching Profession

The Master’s Degree Effect?

February 29, 2012 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Contextual data collected in connection with the National Assessment of Educational Progress show that, in every year since 2005, students whose teachers hold master’s degrees have scored higher on the NAEP math and reading exams than those whose teachers have only bachelor’s degrees. The below charts show the comparative average scores in reading.

NAEP on 'The Master's Degree Effect'

*Significantly different from bachelor’s degree

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress, various years, 2005-2011 reading assessments.

A version of this article appeared in the March 01, 2012 edition of Teacher PD Sourcebook

Events

School & District Management Webinar Squeeze More Learning Time Out of the School Day
Learn how to increase learning time for your students by identifying and minimizing classroom disruptions.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
Improve Reading Comprehension: Three Tools for Working Memory Challenges
Discover three working memory workarounds to help your students improve reading comprehension and empower them on their reading journey.
Content provided by Solution Tree
Recruitment & Retention Webinar EdRecruiter 2026 Survey Results: How School Districts are Finding and Keeping Talent
Discover the latest K-12 hiring trends from EdWeek’s nationwide survey of job seekers and district HR professionals.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Teaching Profession When Teachers Become Parents, They Gain a New Perspective of the Job
While parenthood can present challenges, it also offers opportunities for educators.
5 min read
African American father and his daughter walking to school.
Mladen Zivkovic/iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Live Event Work Flexibility, Leader Stability Keys to High Teacher Morale
Education Week and the Boston Globe partnered on an event exploring the "State of Teaching" project.
5 min read
The Boston Globe’s Christopher Huffaker leads a panel about how to support teachers' morale and development at the Boston Children's Museum in Massachusetts on Dec. 4, 2025. The Globe partnered with Education Week in staging the the "State of Teaching" event.
The Boston Globe’s Christopher Huffaker leads a panel about supporting teachers' morale and development at the Boston Children's Museum on Dec. 4, 2025. The Globe partnered with Education Week in staging the event.<br/>
Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe
Teaching Profession Do Cellphone Bans Curb Teacher Burnout?
Researchers examined the impact on teachers in two middle schools.
4 min read
Illustration of crossed out cellphone, equal sign and happy face.
F. Sheehan/Education Week + Getty
Teaching Profession Teaching During Menopause? You May Want to Hear This News
The FDA will remove warning labels on HRT, a treatment for menopause. Here's why it matters.
4 min read
Photograph of a woman in her 40s or 50s, eyes closed, sitting at a desk holding a small portable fan in one hand with the other hand on her neck.
E+