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How do school ‘report cards’ affect school choice decisions?

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  • Jane Friesen
  • Mohsen Javdani
  • Justin Smith
  • Simon Woodcock

Abstract

. We estimate the effect of information about school achievement that is disseminated to the public through websites and school ‘report cards’ on school choice decisions. We find that students are more likely to leave their school when public information reveals poor school‐level performance. Some parents’ school choice decisions respond to information soon after it becomes available. Others, including non‐English‐speaking parents, alter their school choice decisions only in response to information that has been disseminated widely and discussed in the media. Parents in low‐income neighbourhoods are most likely to alter their school choice decisions in response to new information. JEL classification: I21, D83 Les auteurs évaluent les effets de l'information sur la performance des écoles diffusée au public, via les sites web ou les ≪bulletins≫, sur les décisions de choix d'école. Il appert que les étudiants sont davantage susceptibles de quitter leur école quand l'information publique révèle sa pauvre performance. Les décisions de choix d'école par certains parents répondent à l'information tôt après que l'information devient disponible. D'autres (incluant les parents dont l'anglais n'est pas la première langue) ne modifient leurs décision de choix d'école qu'en réponse à une information qui a été vastement disséminée et discutée dans les médias. Les parents des milieux défavorisés sont moins susceptibles de modifier leur décision de choix d'école en réponse à l'information nouvelle.

Suggested Citation

  • Jane Friesen & Mohsen Javdani & Justin Smith & Simon Woodcock, 2012. "How do school ‘report cards’ affect school choice decisions?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(2), pages 784-807, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:45:y:2012:i:2:p:784-807
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5982.2012.01709.x
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    2. Gibbons, Stephen & Neumayer, Eric & Perkins, Richard, 2015. "Student satisfaction, league tables and university applications: Evidence from Britain," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 148-164.
    3. Stephen Gibbons & Eric Neumayer & Richard Perkins, 2013. "Student Satisfaction, League Tables and University Applications," SERC Discussion Papers 0142, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    4. Dustan, Andrew, 2018. "Family networks and school choice," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 372-391.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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