He is interested in studying teacher education in ways that inform policy and practice. His current research focuses on identifying features of clinical training, including student teaching, that improve teacher quality and persistence, particularly in large, urban districts (Chicago, Miami, New York). Because he is interested in the development of teachers across their careers, Ronfeldt also studies teacher labor markets, including the causes and consequences of teacher turnover. He is currently examining the effects of teacher turnover on student achievement, though he has also studied the relationship between teacher quality and within-district transfer. Ronfeldt earned his PhD from Stanford University where he concentrated on teacher education, and also taught middle school mathematics and science for seven years.