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The impact of state-mandated Advanced Placement programs on student outcomes

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  • Arce-Trigatti, Paula

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of a state mandate to offer Advanced Placement (AP) programs at all public high schools on student outcomes. Requiring compliance with this policy could lead to unintended consequences as schools shift resources or students are re-sorted. Using a difference-in-differences estimation strategy, I investigate a 2004 state-wide mandate to offer AP programs in Arkansas and its impact on students’ schooling outcomes. Results suggest schools decrease the share of courses dedicated to career and technical education in favor of AP courses. Additionally, enrollment decreases by about 60 students on average, the 4-year graduation rate increases by 2.5 percentage points, and there are generally fewer students scoring in the highest category on two end-of-course exams at schools required to comply with the mandate. Taken together, these results suggest the policy may have at least partially affected the sorting of students across schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Arce-Trigatti, Paula, 2018. "The impact of state-mandated Advanced Placement programs on student outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 180-193.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:63:y:2018:i:c:p:180-193
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2018.02.001
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    1. Geiser, Saul & Santelices, Veronica, 2004. "The Role of Advanced Placement and Honors Courses in College Admissions," University of California at Berkeley, Center for Studies in Higher Education qt3ft1g8rz, Center for Studies in Higher Education, UC Berkeley.
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    4. Kristin Klopfenstein & M. Kathleen Thomas, 2009. "The Link between Advanced Placement Experience and Early College Success," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 75(3), pages 873-891, January.
    5. C. Kirabo Jackson, 2010. "A Little Now for a Lot Later: A Look at a Texas Advanced Placement Incentive Program," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 45(3).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Curriculum choices; Human capital investments; State-level education mandates; Advanced Placement programs; College preparation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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