This paper proposes a new methodology for estimating teacher value-added. Rather than imposing a normality assumption on unobserved teacher quality (as in the standard empirical Bayes approach), our nonparametric estimator permits the underlying distribution to be estimated directly and in a computationally feasible way. The resulting estimates fit the unobserved distribution very well regardless of the form it takes, as we show in Monte Carlo simulations. Implementing the nonparametric approach in practice using two separate large-scale administrative data sets, we find the estimated teacher value-added distributions depart from normality and differ from each other. To draw out the policy implications of our method, we first consider a widely-discussed policy to release teachers at the bottom of the value-added distribution, comparing predicted test score gains under our nonparametric approach with those using parametric empirical Bayes. Here the parametric method predicts similar policy gains in one data set while overestimating those in the other by a substantial margin. We also show the predicted gains from teacher retention policies can be underestimated significantly based on the parametric method. In general, the results highlight the benefit of our nonparametric empirical Bayes approach, given that the unobserved distribution of value-added is likely to be context-specific.

Most jobs require teamwork. Are some people good team players? In this paper we design and test a new method for identifying individual contributions to group performance. We randomly assign people to multiple teams and predict team performance based on previously assessed individual skills. Some people consistently cause their group to exceed its predicted performance. We call these individuals “team players”. Team players score significantly higher on a well-established measure of social intelligence, but do not differ across a variety of other dimensions, including IQ, personality, education and gender. Social skills – defined as a single latent factor that combines social intelligence scores with the team player effect – improve group performance about as much as IQ. We find suggestive evidence that team players increase effort among teammates.

In an interview, Arne Schönbohm, 49, the head of Germany's Federal Office for Information Security, discusses the potential danger posed by Huawei, why he thinks it is "manageable" and the general state of IT threats in Germany.

The frequency of fatal helicopter accidents has slipped in recent decades.

Meat is going the way of toilet paper, and grocery stores are rushing to stay ahead of panic buying as supplies tighten during the coronavirus pandemic. Just as scared shoppers snapped up hand sanitizer, soap and yes, toilet paper at the beginning of the pandemic, now they are rushing to stock meat. Grocery chains across the country have begun limiting meat purchases in response to the dual pressures.

Singer and songwriter Brian Howe, a former lead vocalist for the British rock band Bad Company, died Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Florida. The 66-year-old English musician had a brief conversation with first responders, but he then “slipped away" and could not be revived, longtime friend and manager Paul Easton said Thursday.

Weather extreme enough to shatter records across large swaths of the U.S. is heading our way this weekend, just in time for Mother’s Day. A storm system heading into the Northeast on Friday will smash into the polar vortex as it makes swing down from the Arctic, reported NBC News. This might sock the region in with heavy, wet snow all the way into New England.

A California dad allegedly tossed his baby daughter off a “steep cliff” to her death after he stabbed the child’s mom and a bystander who tried to help, relatives and police said.

He’ll need a better defense than the one his favorite team managed against LSU last year.

Brya Bishop was arrested days before her 25th birthday and charged with three felonies.

McDonald’s knows exactly where its beef is. The fast food chain’s CEO on Thursday expressed full confidence in the burger joint’s meat supply.

The Social Security Administration will not release its list of popular baby names this year.

An extensive search was launched Thursday for a teenager who allegedly stabbed his younger brother to death in the Florida Keys community of Islamorada, authorities said.

The U.S. unemployment rate suffered its worst monthly loss on record, hitting a startling 14.7% in April as the coronavirus pandemic and the drastic efforts to contain it forced employers to slash more than 20 million jobs.

Veterans are being hit hard by unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some Costco customers are not happy about having to wear masks in stores.