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Does Out-of-Home Care Improve Children’s School Attendance?

Author

Listed:
  • Nicole Black
  • Danusha Jayawardana
  • David Johnston
  • Leonie Segal

Abstract

School attendance is central to learning and educational attainment and a key outcome for maltreated children entering out-of-home care (OHC). Using administrative records from South Australia’s child protection and school systems, we estimate the effect of OHC placement on school attendance. Our dynamic difference-in-differences design exploits within-child variation, using future OHC entrants as controls. School absences are found to decline immediately following placement, with reductions persisting over the 24-month follow-up. Reductions are largest for unexplained absences, consistent with improved routine and supervision. Further evidence suggests that attendance gains are concentrated during care rather than emerging after children exit OHC.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicole Black & Danusha Jayawardana & David Johnston & Leonie Segal, 2026. "Does Out-of-Home Care Improve Children’s School Attendance?," Papers 2026-15, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhe:chemon:paper_1792366444610_791
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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