The pros and cons of using gains in student learning to evaluate the effectiveness of their teachers are discussed by Professor Thomas Kane of Harvard University and Professor Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford University in a recently published article in the Wall Street Journal.

Kane argues that gains in student test scores are one of the best available measures of teacher effectiveness, particularly when combined with other measures, and are better predictors of teachers’ effectiveness than their educational level or seniority.  Darling-Hammond argues that using gains in student test scores is unfair because it does not weigh in student background, an important factor in determining success in school.