How Teachers Make a Difference

HOW TEACHERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE The future of America depends on our teachers. By educating the next generation, teachers in our country are shaping tomorrow's politicians, business leaders, artists, scientists, and doctors. 84% Teachers work an average of 50 hours per week, including 12 hours per week on activities they don't get paid for, like grading papers and advising stu- dent clubs. of K-12 public school teachers were women as of 2011. 56% of K-12 public school teachers had at least a Master's degree as of 2011. Number of Students Affected 3.2 million public school teachers educate the 49.4 million kids in the American public school system, from pre-kindergarten “nursery schools" to high schools. In 2021, public school enrollment is expected to climb to 53,113,300, a 7.3% increase from 2010. On average a teacher affects 3,000 children over the course of their career. Teachers' Effects: Academics and Earnings A North Carolina study found that having an effective teacher has 14 times the effect on student success as shrinking the size of the class by 5 students. One measure of a teacher's effectiveness is their “value-added" score, which is the average gain in test scores for their students, adjusted for differences in student characteristics and classrooms. A Texas study Assigning a student a teacher 1 standard Assigning a student a Being taught by a teacher with a very high value-added record (in the top 5%) for 1 year boosts a child's lifetime income by $50,000. found that a teacher 1 standard teacher's deviation better than deviation better than a median teacher for 1 year can lead to $25,000 more in earnings over a life- time. effectiveness is their current teacher for 20 1 year also makes a student 1.25% more likely to attend college and 1.25% less likely to become pregnant as times as likely to boost student perfor- a teen. mance on tests as other factors. Teachers' Effects: Social and Emotional Support A study of 103 U.S. students between 7 and 15 years old found that most rated their teachers as very socially/emotionally supportive. The mean (average) rating the stu- dents gave their teachers was 3.6 out of 4.0. A 2010 survey found that 88% of Ameri- can adults reported having a teacher who had "a significant, positive impact" on their life. Of these respondents: In that study, 94% of respondents also said Americans should do more to recognize good teachers. 83% 79% reported having a teacher who said a teacher helped boost their self-esteem and encouraged them to follow their confidence dreams. 75% 54% said a teacher had been a said a teacher had helped them during a difficult time. mentor or role model for them. New Area of Focus: K-12 Personal Finance Education According to K-12 teachers surveyed: 92% 64% 37% 16% said finance said finance education should be provided in said finance said finance education should be education should be provided in the early school years (pre-K through 2nd grade). education should be pro- provided in high vided in middle school (grades 6 through 8). mid-to-late elemen- school (grades 9 through 12). tary school (grades 3 through 5). Sources: National Bureau of Economic Research, National Center for Education TM Information, Education Research International, Partnership for Learning, ING Foundation, National Education Association, William & Mary School of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Endowment for Financial Education CreditDonkey CreditDonkey.com helps families with "donkey-proof" (easy to understand) financial tips and deals.