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Class-size reduction policies and the quality of entering teachers

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  • Dieterle, Steven G.

Abstract

Class-size reduction (CSR) policies have typically failed to produce large achievement gains. One common explanation is that CSR forces schools to hire low-quality teachers. Prior studies of this hypothesis have been hindered by poor data. Using different data, we find that hiring quality did fall with state-wide CSR. However, this drop was temporary due to attrition by the lowest performers. Furthermore, the drop was similar for schools classified as treated and control for prior evaluations of CSR. Therefore, differences in the quality of incoming teachers cannot explain the estimated performance of CSR. This is consistent with hiring spillovers in connected markets.

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  • Dieterle, Steven G., 2015. "Class-size reduction policies and the quality of entering teachers," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 35-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:36:y:2015:i:c:p:35-47
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2015.07.005
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    Cited by:

    1. Pietro Sancassani, 2021. "The Effect of Teacher Characteristics on Students’ Science Achievement," ifo Working Paper Series 348, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    2. Reiling, Rune Borgan, 2016. "Does size matter? Educational attainment and cohort size," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 73-89.
    3. Adrien Bouguen & Julien Grenet & Marc Gurgand, 2017. "Does class size influence student achievement?," Post-Print halshs-02522747, HAL.
    4. Adrien Bouguen & Julien Grenet & Marc Gurgand, 2017. "Does class size influence student achievement?," Post-Print halshs-02522747, HAL.
    5. Paul Burkander, 2013. "The Causal Effect of School Reform: Evidence from California's Quality Education Investment Act," 2013 Papers pbu326, Job Market Papers.
    6. Adrien Bouguen & Julien Grenet & Marc Gurgand, 2017. "La taille des classes influence-t-elle la réussite scolaire ?," Institut des Politiques Publiques hal-02453596, HAL.
    7. Adrien Bouguen & Julien Grenet & Marc Gurgand, 2017. "La taille des classes influence-t-elle la réussite scolaire ?," Post-Print hal-02453596, HAL.
    8. Steven Dieterle, 2013. "Development Class-size Reduction Policies and the Quality of Entering Teachers," Edinburgh School of Economics Discussion Paper Series 224, Edinburgh School of Economics, University of Edinburgh.
    9. Bernal, Pedro & Mittag, Nikolas & Qureshi, Javaeria A., 2016. "Estimating effects of school quality using multiple proxies," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 1-10.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Teacher Labor Markets; Teacher quality; Class size;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets

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