Value-Added Models (VAM)

Value-Added Models (VAM) are tools used to measure a teacher’s effectiveness by analyzing students’ academic progress over time. Instead of just considering test scores at a single point, VAM assesses how much a student’s performance improves, attributing that growth to the teacher. It accounts for factors like students’ prior achievement, helping to provide a fairer view of teaching impact. Schools and policymakers use VAM to identify strengths and areas for improvement in teaching methods, aiming to support better student learning outcomes while ensuring fair evaluation.