Study: Good kindergarten teachers matter

The New York Times - July 27, 2010

Wondering if that well-qualified kindergarten teacher really makes a difference?

A new study has found that some teachers in a Tennessee experiment not only were able to help students learn vastly more than others, but also result in these students being more likely to go to college, less likely to become single parents, and more likely to save for retirement. "Perhaps most likely," reports the article in The New York Times, "these students were earning more."

The Tennessee experiment, known as Project Star, randomly assigned students to a kindergarten class in the 1980s. Examining the life paths of almost 12,000 children who are now about 30, the researchers found that former students with certain teachers fared significantly better.

The researchers estimate that a standout kindergarten teacher is worth about $320,000 year.