National Center on Performance Incentives

Round Rock Team Progress Awards

In 2012, NCPI completed the final year of its randomized field trial conducted with the Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) in Round Rock, Texas. This two-year study examined how team-level awards impact student achievement in core subject areas (i.e., mathematics, reading, writing, social studies and science) as well as the impact of team-level awards on teacher behavior, institutional and organizational dynamics, and many other aspects of the schooling process.

All teachers in grades 6, 7, and 8 interdisciplinary teams that taught a core subject area (i.e., math, reading, writing, social studies, and science) were part of the study. Non-core teachers or paraprofessionals assigned to a team were eligible to participate if they provided team-wide student support. Principals also received a modest honorarium for participating in study-related activities and facilitating research team access to necessary data. Team performance was based on a value-added measure of student progress on standardized achievement tests and district benchmark assessments. Students were tested in four core subjects: reading/language arts; mathematics; science; and social studies.

Additional Information

Team Pay for Performance: Experimental Evidence From the Round Rock Pilot Project on Team Incentives