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Beyond Teachers: Estimating Individual School Counselors' Effects on Educational Attainment

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  • Christine Mulhern

Abstract

Counselors are a common school resource for students navigating complicated and consequential education choices. I estimate counselors' causal effects using quasi-random assignment policies in Massachusetts. Counselors vary substantially in their effectiveness at increasing high school graduation and college attendance, selectivity, and persistence. Counselor effects on educational attainment are similar in magnitude to teacher effects, but they flow through improved information and assistance more than cognitive or noncognitive skill development. Counselor effectiveness is most important for low-income and low-achieving students, so improving access to effective counseling may be a promising way to increase educational attainment and close socioeconomic gaps in education.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Mulhern, 2023. "Beyond Teachers: Estimating Individual School Counselors' Effects on Educational Attainment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(11), pages 2846-2893, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:113:y:2023:i:11:p:2846-93
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20200847
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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