ABCTE Teachers in Florida and Their Effect on Student Performance

Do alternatively certified teachers produce student achievement gains on par with other teachers? This study used propensity score matching to identify a comparison group of teachers in Florida to address this question for the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE). Using data on 30 teachers over two years, the authors found no differences in gains in reading between students of ABCTE and non-ABCTE teachers. However, students of ABCTE teachers scored lower than their counterparts on the state math test.