Teacher salaries and student achievement: the case of Pennsylvania

Abstract

In this article, we developed an empirical model and tested the hypothesis that teacher salaries and student achievement are positively and significantly related. A total of 500 school districts in the state of Pennsylvania for 3 school years (1999–2000, 2000–2001 and 2001–2002) were selected for a case study. Consequently, the empirical evidence revealed that the hypothesis was accepted, implying that higher teacher salaries attract better qualified teachers and thus benefits student learning and improves student achievement.

Notes

¹The level of education is measured via codes. These codes are as follows: 1 = less than high school graduate; 2 = high school graduates; 3 = less than bachelor's degree; 4 = bachelor's degree; 5 = master's degree and 6 = doctor's degree (see Public School Professional Personnel, Pennsylvania Department of Education).

²These codes are as follows: 1 = school district located in Rural, inside Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA); 2 = school district located in Rural, outside CBSA; 3 = school district located in Small Town; 4 = school district located in Large Town; 5 = school district located in Urban Fringe of a Mid-size City; 6 = school district located in Urban Fringe of a Large City; 7 = school district located in Mid-size City and 8 = school district located in Large City. Large City = a central city of a Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) or Consolidated Statistical Area (CSA), with the city having a population greater than or equal to 250 000; Mid-size City = a central city of a CBSA or CSA, with the city having a population less than 250 000; Urban Fringe of a Large City = any incorporated place, Census-designated place or non-place territory within a CBSA or CSA of a mid-size city and defined as urban by the Census Bureau; Urban Fringe of a Mid-size City = any incorporated place, Census designated place or non-place territory within a CBSA or CSA of a mid-size city and defined as urban by the Census Bureau: Large Town = an incorporated place or Census-designated place with a population greater than or equal to 25 000 and located outside a CBSA or CSA; Small Town = an incorporated place or Census-designated place with population less than 25 000 and greater than or equal to 2500 and located outside a CBSA or CSA; Rural, outside CBSA = any incorporated place, Census-designated place or non-place territory not within a CBSA or CSA of a large or mid-size city and defined as rural by the Census Bureau; and Rural, inside CBSA = any incorporated place, Census-designated place or non-place territory within a CBSA or CSA of a large or mid-size city and defined as rural by the Census Bureau. (Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education [www.pde.state.pa.us].)