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The Relationship Between Student Transfers and District Academic Performance: Accounting for Feedback Effects

Author

Listed:
  • David M. Welsch

    (Department of Economics College of Business and Economics University of Wisconsin)

  • David M. Zimmer

    (Department of Economics Western Kentucky University Bowling Green)

Abstract

This paper draws attention to a subtle, but concerning, empirical challenge common in panel data models that seek to estimate the relationship between student transfers and district academic performance. Specifically, if such models have a dynamic element, and if the estimator controls for unobserved traits by including district-level effects, then model validity does not allow for a district's academic performance, in turn, to impact future transfers. Yet it seems reasonable that families, having access to publicly available aggregated information on standardized test results, seek to move their children to better-performing districts. In this paper, we demonstrate that, not only is such feedback quantitatively and qualitatively important, but also that allowing for such feedback substantially alters the estimated relationship between transfers and district performance.

Suggested Citation

  • David M. Welsch & David M. Zimmer, 2015. "The Relationship Between Student Transfers and District Academic Performance: Accounting for Feedback Effects," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 10(3), pages 399-422, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:edfpol:v:10:y:2015:i:3:p:399-422
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. David M. Zimmer, 2022. "Investigating the dynamic interdependency between poverty and marital separation," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1239-1254, December.
    2. Welsch, David M. & Zimmer, David M., 2016. "The dynamic relationship between school size and academic performance: An investigation of elementary schools in Wisconsin," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 158-169.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    student transfers; district performance; school districts; standardized testing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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