- Year 2023
- NSF Noyce Award # 1950292
- First Name Li
- Last Name Feng
- Discipline Geosciences
- Co-PI(s)
Mike Hansen, Brookings Institution; David Kumar, Florida Atlantic University
- Presenters
Xiu Wu, Li Feng, Yao Yu Chih
Need
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (RNTSP) provides financial support to undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in teaching STEM subjects. However, there are some challenges associated with estimating the effectiveness of this program. These challenges include time lag, spatial non-synergistic effects, and the lack of an object-based surveillance mechanism. These elements caused uncertainties in the estimation of the program’s impact. This research aims to identify the spatial relationship between RNTSP and public-school districts in the U.S. The main objective is to examine the potential effects of RNTSP on the current public school system. This will be achieved by the use of the spatial join tool. Specifically, different radii intersections will be used to determine the extent of the relationship between RNTSP and the public-school districts. By doing so, the research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of RNTSP and how it impacts the education resources available to public schools.
Goals
How does the RNTSP influence public school districts in the U.S. in space?
Approach
To examine how well the Noyce program supports STEM teachers, we took advantage of the strengths of spatial models to examine the distribution of the Noyce program, matching U.S. public school districts with a spatial join of 10 or 25 miles and then conducted OLS, Spatial Lag Regression, and Spatial Error Regression models to uncover spatial dependence and heterogeneity. It provided robust evidence for evaluating teacher incentives and compensation, valuable insights for education policymakers, and a new perspective on addressing teacher location-allocation.
Outcomes
In 25 miles buffer zone, the percentage of the free lunch program was negatively significant. In the 25 miles buffer zone, the RNTSP influenced public school districts in the U.S. in terms of the percentage of the free lunch program, the total number of teachers, and the total number of staff according to the SLR and SER model. In 25 miles buffer zone, the urban area is negatively significant. The SER model is shown that RNTSP was spatially dependent on school districts. The percentages of the free lunch program were significant in a 25 miles buffer zone.
Broader Impacts
This research aims to identify the spatial relationship between RNTSP and public-school districts in the U.S. The main objective is to examine the potential effects of RNTSP on the current public school system. This will be achieved by the use of the spatial join tool. Specifically, different radii intersections will be used to determine the extent of the relationship between RNTSP and the public-school districts. By doing so, the research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of RNTSP and how it impacts the education resources available to public schools. Teacher related salary and compensation variables will be consider in the research for next steps.
