Value-added assessment (VAA) systems use statistical techniques to analyze test-score data; VAA data is intended to help educators make more informed decisions about curriculum and instruction. The authors examined the rollout of Pennsylvania's VAA program, and found that, in its pilot phase, the program had little effect on student achievement and received limited use by most principals and teachers at schools participating in the program.

In an extensive review of teacher and school evaluation, one is not likely to find an issue more divisive than the question of how best, in high-stakes contexts, to evaluate how well teachers and schools accomplish their task of educating students. This book explores four contemporary approaches to evaluating the effectiveness of teachers and schools.