Department of Education

Does experience make the best teacher?

Research co-authored by Associate Professors Matthew Kraft and John Papay indicates some teachers improve effectiveness the more years they teach.

The past few decades of research find "little correlation between teacher experience and teacher effectiveness after completing the steep learning curve of the first three to five years in the classroom." However, a recent National Council on Teacher Quality's blog post explores a study by Associate Professors of Education Matthew Kraft and John Papay, and Olivia Chi (Harvard University), that suggests some teachers continue gaining effectiveness with the more years they teach. "Taken together, our study provides new insights on teacher performance improvement and variation in teacher development across instructional skills and individual teachers."

Does experience make the best teacher? (research by Matthew Kraft and John Papay cited) — National Council on Teacher Quality

Read the full study here