Kids vs. Adults: Using Observations and Student Surveys to Evaluate the Arkansas Teacher Corps

Abstract

This study is an evaluation of the Arkansas Teacher Corps, an alternative teacher certification program that places teachers in high needs schools in rural, southern Arkansas. This evaluation focuses on an intermediate goal of the organization — effective teaching practices — and uses a matching strategy to determine the effectiveness of Arkansas Teacher Corps Fellows. Data comes from third party observations and student surveys. ATC teachers are rated significantly higher on constructs of content knowledge, teacher-student relationships in class, and teacher-student relationships out of class by students. There are no significant differences between ATC and non-ATC teachers noted by observers or on other constructs measured by student surveys.

Keywords: Alternative Certification, High Needs Schools, Teacher Observations, Student Surveys, Matching