Author

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Derek Neal

Professor in Economics, University of Chicago

Neal's current research focuses on the design of incentive systems for educators. His work explores the design flaws in current performance pay and accountability systems and also highlights the advantages of providing incentives through contests between schools. In recent years, he also has focused his research efforts on racial inequality in the United States and on the design of education policy. From 2005-09, he directed the Chicago Workshop on Black–White Inequality. This workshop involved a series of one-day conferences that explored various aspects of black–white inequality in the United States. The workshop began as a response to his Handbook of Economics of Education chapter entitled, “Why Has Black–White Skill Convergence Stopped?” which carefully documented the stagnation of Black relative progress with respect to human capital beginning in the late 1980s.

He is a past president of the Midwest Economics Association, a fellow of the Society of Labor Economists, and an editor of the Journal of Political Economy.

Related to Derek Neal

Promoting K-12 Education to Advance Student Achievement Photos

September 27, 2011 • Photo Galleries

On September 27, The Hamilton Project at Brookings helda forum to highlight new policy ideas and perspectives on how to improve student performance in K-12 education. The program concluded with a discussion on the path forward in education reform with Teach for America Founder and CEO Wendy Kopp and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, moderated by David Leonhardt, D.C. bureau chief of the New York Times.

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Promoting K-12 Education to Advance Student Achievement

Events • September 27, 2011 • Washington, DC

On September 27, The Hamilton Project at Brookings held a forum to highlight new policy ideas and perspectives on how to improve student performance in K-12 education. The program concluded with a discussion on the path forward in education reform with Teach for America Founder and CEO Wendy Kopp and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, moderated by David Leonhardt, D.C. bureau chief of the New York Times.

Promoting K-12 Education: Panel III: New Assessments for Improved Accountability

September 27, 2011 • Audio

Hamilton Project Director Michael Greenstone moderates a panel discussion between University of Chicago Professor Derek Neal, former Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Peter Gorman, New Visions for Public Schools President Robert L. Hughes, and United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew at the event "Promoting K-12 Education to Advance Student Achievement."

Promoting K-12 Education: Panel III: New Assessments for Improved Accountability

September 27, 2011 • Video

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New Assessments for Improved Accountability

Papers • September 2011 • Derek Neal

In recent years, efforts to hold teachers and schools accountable for student test scores have increased as part of an attempt to increase student achievement by raising teacher effectiveness and bringing up the performance of low-performing schools. Derek Neal proposes improved assessments and accountability systems through two distinct examinations: one traditional test to track educational achievement over time, and a new examination to evaluate teacher performance.