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Making the Grade: The Sensitivity of Education Program Effectiveness to Input Choices and Outcome Measures

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  • Jason T. Kerwin

    (Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota)

  • Rebecca L. Thornton

    (Department of Economics, University of Illinois)

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the acute sensitivity of education program effectiveness to the choices of inputs and outcome measures, using a randomized evaluation of a mother-tongue literacy program. The program raises reading scores by 0.64 SD and writing scores by 0.45 SD. A reduced-cost version instead yields statistically insignificant reading gains and some large negative effects (−0.33 SDs) on advanced writing. We combine a conceptual model of education production with detailed classroom observations to examine the mechanisms driving the results; we show they could be driven by the program initially lowering productivity before raising it, and potentially by missing complementary inputs in the reduced-cost version.

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  • Jason T. Kerwin & Rebecca L. Thornton, 2021. "Making the Grade: The Sensitivity of Education Program Effectiveness to Input Choices and Outcome Measures," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(2), pages 251-264, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:103:y:2021:i:2:p:251-264
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00911
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    3. Buhl-Wiggers, Julie & Kerwin, Jason & Muñoz-Morales, Juan S. & Smith, Jeffrey A. & Thornton, Rebecca L., 2020. "Some Children Left Behind: Variation in the Effects of an Educational Intervention," IZA Discussion Papers 13598, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    15. Derksen, Laura & Leclerc, Catherine Michaud & Souza, Pedro CL, 2019. "Searching for Answers: The Impact of Student Access to Wikipedia," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 450, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
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    20. Leighton, Margaret, 2022. "Mother tongue reading materials as a bridge to literacy," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    21. Rodriguez-Segura, Daniel, 2022. "A closer look at reading comprehension: Experimental evidence from Guatemala," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    22. Raphaël Martin & Thomas Renault & Baptiste Roux, 2022. "Baisse de la productivité en France : échec en « maths » ?," Post-Print hal-04084079, HAL.
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    24. Adelaide Baronchelli & Alessandra Foresta & Roberto Ricciuti, 2020. "The Words That Keep People Apart. Official Language, Accountability and Fiscal Capacity," CESifo Working Paper Series 8437, CESifo.

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