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Does intensive coaching reduce school dropout? Evidence from a randomized experiment

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  • van der Steeg, Marc
  • van Elk, Roel
  • Webbink, Dinand

Abstract

School dropout is an important social and economic problem. This paper investigates the effect of an intensive coaching program aimed at reducing school dropout rates among students aged 16–20. Students received support and guidance with their study activities, personal problems and internships in firms. The coaching program lasted one or two years. Students were randomly assigned to the coaching program. We find that one year of coaching reduced school dropout rates by more than 40% from 17 to 10 percentage points. The second year of coaching further reduced school dropout by 1 percentage point. The program is most effective for students with a high ex-ante probability of dropping out, such as students no longer obliged to be in formal education, male students, and students not living with both parents. Cost-benefit analysis suggests that one year of coaching is likely to yield a net social gain.

Suggested Citation

  • van der Steeg, Marc & van Elk, Roel & Webbink, Dinand, 2015. "Does intensive coaching reduce school dropout? Evidence from a randomized experiment," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 184-197.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:48:y:2015:i:c:p:184-197
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2015.07.006
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    1. Jonneke Bolhaar & Sander Gerritsen & Sonny Kuijpers & Karen van der Wiel, 2019. "Experimenting with dropout prevention policies," CPB Discussion Paper 400, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    2. Matilde Reséndiz-Castro & Rosalba Zepeda-Bautista & Ignacio Enrique Peón-Escalante, 2022. "Transdisciplinary Cyber-systemic Design of Instruments to Measure Academic Performance in Middle and Higher Education Systems," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 395-440, June.
    3. Francisco Gallego & Philip Oreopoulos & Noah Spencer, 2023. "The Importance of a Helping Hand in Education and in Life," Documentos de Trabajo 575, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
    4. William N. Evans & Melissa S. Kearney & Brendan Perry & James X. Sullivan, 2020. "Increasing Community College Completion Rates Among Low‐Income Students: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluation of a Case‐Management Intervention," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(4), pages 930-965, September.
    5. Sambit Rath & Soma Wadhwa, 2017. "Why Some Girls Drop Out of Secondary School Despite Conditional Cash Transfers: A Mixed Method Analysis," Journal of Development Policy and Practice, , vol. 2(2), pages 163-194, July.
    6. Jonneke Bolhaar & Sander Gerritsen & Sonny Kuijpers & Karen van der Wiel, 2019. "Experimenting with dropout prevention policies," CPB Discussion Paper 400.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    7. Rafi Amir-ud-Din & Hafiz Zahid Mahmood & Faisal Abbas & Verda Salman & Sameen Zafar, 2022. "Leaving studies because of lack of interest: an analysis of the risk factors of school dropouts in Pakistan," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(5), pages 3189-3214, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Randomized experiment; Impact evaluation; School dropout; Coaching; Students at risk;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate

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