Zheng, Qi

• PhD, Educational Policy Analysis and Evaluation (PK-20 focus), University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2025
• M.A., Economics of Education, Peking University, 2019
• B.A., Educational Studies, Northeast Normal University, 2016
• Visiting Student, National Taiwan Normal University, Fall 2014

• Co-Principal Investigator (in preparation, initial grant secured): “Expanding AI Access for Rural Teachers: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Subscription and Platform-Based Support.”
• Co-Principal Investigator (2023-2026): “Addressing Preschool Teacher Turnover Through Evidence-Based Coaching: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Enhancing Administrative Support”. National Natural Science Foundation of China.
• Senior Analyst (2023–2025): “Role of Geography and Local Labor Markets in Measuring Equitable Postsecondary Value.” Principal Investigator: Nicholas Hillman. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

[Google Scholar profile: link]

Selected Journal Articles

• Zheng, Q. (Conditional acceptance). How Information about Educational Inequality Shapes Student Teachers’ Prosocial Preference and Intentions for Hard-to-Staff Schools? Evidence from a Survey Experiment. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis.
• Zheng, Q. (2026). Contextual Factors and Test-Disclosure Decisions under Test-Optional Policies. Research in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-026-09908-3
• Xie, X., & Zheng, Q. (2026). Exploring Effective Teacher Certificate Requirements to Benefit Student Achievement: Evidence from a Global Perspective. International Journal of Educational Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2025.103476
• Zheng, Q., & Shi, Y. (2025). Can Service Scholarships Boost Academic Performance? Causal Evidence from China’s Free Teacher Education Scholarship. Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01242-w
• Shi, Y., Zheng, Q., Zhang, X., Xie, X., & Ye, X. (2025). Recruiting High-Quality Teachers with Service Scholarships: Descriptive Evidence from China’s Free Teacher Education Scholarship. ECNU Review of Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311251345498
• Zheng, Q., & Yu, A. (2024). Inequality in the Shadow: The Role of Private Tutoring in SES Achievement Gaps. Social Science Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2024.103053
• Zheng, Q., Xie, X., Ye, X., & Wei, Y. (2024). Do Teachers Colleges Prepare More Effective Teachers? Evidence from a Top School District in China. China Economic Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102225

Papers Under Review and Revision

• Shi, Y., Zhang, X., Zheng, Q., Song, Y., & Ye, X. (Resubmitted to Teaching and Teacher Education). Kindergarten Teacher Turnover in China: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data.
• Zheng, Q. (R&R at Education Finance and Policy). Do Test-Optional Admissions Reduce the SES-Based Admission Disparity? Evidence from a Public Flagship University.
• Zheng, Q. (Under review). The Evolving Role of Standardized Tests in Predicting College Success Amid Test-Optional Admissions.
• Zheng, Q., Shi, Y., & Cui, Y. (Under review). More Than Words: Teachers’ Awareness of Inequality and Support for Compensatory Response, School Assignment, and Student Achievement.
• Yang, H., Zheng, Q., & Xie, X. (Under review). More Use, Less Learning? The Effects of Teacher ICT Use on Achievement Growth: Evidence from the TIMSS 2023 Longitudinal Study.

Policy Reports

• Hillman, N., Colston, J., Boonstra, K., & Zheng, Q. (2025). Calculating the Return on Investment in Postsecondary Education: Differences in State vs. Local Earnings. Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR Lab): University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Zheng, Q., Dziesinski, A., & Hillman, N. (2023). 2022 Director’s Scholarship Report. Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR Lab): University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Dziesinski, A., Zheng, Q., & Hillman, N. (2023). UW Higher Education Location Program – system-wide perspective on college access; connects students to campuses and resources. Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR Lab): University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• An, X., Zheng, Q., Shi, Y., Xie, X., Ye, X., & Zhang, X. (2021). Teaching Skills: The Key Element of Preparing K-12 Educators. Policy Report for Chinese National Center for Education Development Research.

Peer Review Service

Manuscript reviewer for: Education Finance and Policy, AERA Open, Social Science Research, International Journal of Educational Development, Higher Education, Studies in Higher Education, Journal of Teacher Education, The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, Journal of Experimental Education, PLOS One, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. Association for Education Finance and Policy (Conference) and the Comparative and International Education Society (Conference).