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Estimating the cost function of connecticut public K–12 education: implications for inequity and inadequacy in school spending

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  • Bo Zhao

Abstract

This paper is the first to estimate the cost function of Connecticut public K–12 education and to evaluate the state's school spending based on regression-estimated education costs. It finds large disparities across districts in education costs and cost-adjusted spending. A large percentage of the state's public school students are enrolled in districts where spending is inadequate relative to the predicted cost of achieving a common student performance target. Thus, many school districts, especially the high-cost ones, need a large amount of additional spending to improve student performance.

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  • Bo Zhao, 2023. "Estimating the cost function of connecticut public K–12 education: implications for inequity and inadequacy in school spending," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(4), pages 439-470, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:edecon:v:31:y:2023:i:4:p:439-470
    DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2022.2077914
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicholas Chiumenti & Bo Zhao, 2020. "Measuring Disparities in Cost and Spending across Connecticut School Districts," New England Public Policy Center Research Report 20-2, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

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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
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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