Essays on Teacher Quality and Coaching

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Teacher quality is crucial for student performance, and enhancing it can yield significant benefits. However, understanding the factors influencing teacher quality and effective improvement strategies remains complex. This dissertation explores the determinants of teacher quality and evaluates policies aimed at its enhancement. The first paper analyzes the correlation between teacher evaluations and student performance in primary education, revealing that scores from a detailed observation rubric predicting pedagogical and organizational competencies significantly forecast student gains in standardized tests for math, reading, and spelling, particularly identifying weaker teachers. The second paper assesses the impact of schooling vouchers for teachers using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, finding that voucher assignment notably affects higher education enrollment and completion rates, indicating substantial crowding out. The third paper examines the influence of increased pay for secondary school teachers on retention and further education, leveraging regional pay variations from a new remuneration policy. While no significant effects on retention were observed, the policy did retain a slightly larger share of teachers in the targeted area and increased participation in continuous education. The fourth paper evaluates an intensive coaching program aimed at reducing dropout rates in post-secondary vocational education