VAM (Value-Added Modeling)

Value-Added Modeling (VAM) is a statistical approach used to assess the effectiveness of teachers or schools by measuring their contributions to student learning, beyond what can be attributed to factors like socio-economic background. It analyzes student test scores over time to determine how much a teacher or school has helped improve these scores compared to expected growth. Essentially, VAM aims to pinpoint the impact educators have on student achievement, isolating their contributions from other variables that might affect learning outcomes. This helps in evaluating educational performance and informing decisions related to teaching quality and policy.