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Bricks and Mortar versus Computers and Modems: The Influences of Enrollment in K–12 Virtual Schools

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  • Carycruz Bueno

    (Department of Economics, Wesleyan University)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed virtual schooling at the forefront of policy concerns, as millions of children shift to virtual schooling. Given this shift, and the corresponding increase in demand for virtual education, it is imperative to explore its impacts on student outcomes. Using panel data, I find that attending a full-time virtual school in Georgia led to a reduction of 0.1 to 0.4 standard deviations in achievement test scores among elementary and middle school students. These results are robust to using multiple approaches to account for selection. I also find a negative relationship between attending a virtual school and graduation.

Suggested Citation

  • Carycruz Bueno, 2025. "Bricks and Mortar versus Computers and Modems: The Influences of Enrollment in K–12 Virtual Schools," Wesleyan Economics Working Papers 2025-008, Wesleyan University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:wes:weswpa:2025-008
    as

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    File URL: http://repec.wesleyan.edu/pdf/cbueno/2025008_bueno.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • 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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