Collective teacher efficacy continues to be either number one or two in terms of impact size on student performance, according to John Hattie.
If you’re looking for a great read, check this out. Collective Efficacy: How Educators’ Beliefs Impact Student Learning
Obviously Hattie continues to rank all kinds of stuff. If I remember correctly, anything with a .40 effect size and above is considered impactful. Collective teacher efficacy has an effect size of 1.57. Student mental health, specifically depression, continues to be dead bang last, with an actual negative effect size of -.42. By the way, RTI is considered a ‘Super Factor’, just like Collective Teacher Efficacy. It has an effect size of 1.07. And we have good RTI work going on all over the place. Coupling that with collective teacher efficacy, for example, can really have a powerful and positive effect on kids.
“When a school staff shares the belief that through their collective actions they can positively influence student outcomes, student achievement increases. Collective teacher efficacy deserves the attention of every educator because it was recently ranked as the number one factor influencing student achievement (Hattie, 2016). Educators with high efficacy show greater effort and persistence, a willingness to try new teaching approaches, and attend more closely to the needs of students who are not progressing well. They also convey high expectations, foster learner autonomy, and welcome increased parental involvement. In addition, educators who share a sense of collective efficacy get students to believe they can excel in school.”
“Collective teacher efficacy (d = 1.57). This is a factor that can be manipulated at a whole school level. It involves helping all teachers on the staff to understand that the way they go about their work has a significant impact on student results – for better or worse. Simultaneously, it involves stopping them from using other factors (e.g. home life, socio-economic status, motivation) as an excuse for poor progress. Yes, these factors hinder learning, but a great teacher will always try to make a difference despite this, and they often succeed.”
I suppose one good question to ask ourselves as leaders is, “Do the educators at our place believe that our collective actions can positively influence student outcomes and increase student achievement?”
The Lighting of a Fire 