U'S' Elementary and Secondary Schools: Equalizing Opportunity or Replicating the Status Quo

1
U.S. Elementary and Secondary Schools
Equalizing Opportunity or Replicating the Status
Quo?

• Cecilia Elena Rouse
• Princeton University
• and
• Lisa Barrow
• Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

2
Education and Income
3
Elementary and secondary school outcomes are
related to family SES
4
SES likely causes educational outcomesnet of
genetics

• A significant portion of a childs education is
  due to mothers education (Sacerdote, 2004)
• Increases in income increase student test scores
  (Morris, Duncan, Rodrigues, 2005 Dahl
  Lochner, 2005).

5
Why does low SES cause worse educational
outcomes?

• Differences in school quality?
• May affect value of education
• (1 year at a low quality school increases HC by
  less than 1 year at a high quality school)
• May affect cost of education
• (Low quality school leaves student less well
  prepared to master the next level.)

6
Does family SES affect school quality?
7
Does family SES affect school quality?
8
School quality affects educational outcomes

• Recent studies say money matters
• Tennessee STAR studies say class size matters
• Many studies say teacher quality matters
• Institutional accountability programs appear to
  have relatively small effects
• The evidence on charter schools and vouchers is
  not promising.

9
Conclusions

• Family background important in determining
  childs educational outcomes
• Compensatory education and finance equalization
  have not eliminated the link between family SES
  and educational outcomes.

10
Limitations of Education Policy

• Student achievement also depends on parental
  investments outside of school.
• High SES parents can afford to spend more on
  recreational lessons or other instruction.

11
Average dollars spent per year on recreational
lessons or other instruction by parental
education level
Source Rouse and Barrow, The Future of
Children, 2006.