National Conference on Value-Added Modeling

Value-added modeling (VAM) is being used increasingly as a tool of education research and accountability systems, yet little is known about the validity and reliability of the results or, therefore, the potential of VAM to improve education practice. This project commissioned original research and organized a national conference to address some of the most important technical issues surrounding VAM as well as their implications for education policy.

The research papers, conference, and related activities focused on two interrelated issues: how VAM can be used to identify effective policies and practices (school improvement) and how it can be used to identify effective teachers and schools (accountability).

The conference brought together prominent researchers from different disciplinary perspectives: sociology, economics, educational measurements, statistics, and education policy.