Ability tracking, school competition, and the distribution of educational benefits

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Epple, D; Newlon, E; Romano, R
• 署名单位: Carnegie Mellon University; University of Kentucky; State University System of Florida; University of Florida
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/S0047-2727(00)00175-4
• 发表日期: 2002
• 页码: 1-48
• 关键词: ability tracking; School competition; distribution of educational benefits

摘要

To study the effects of ability grouping on school competition, we develop a theoretical and computational model of tracking in public and private schools. We examine tracking's consequences for the allocation of students of differing abilities and income within and between public and private schools. Private schools tend to attract the most able and wealthiest students, and rarely track in equilibrium. Public sector schools can maximize attendance by tracking students. Public schools retain a greater proportion of higher-ability students by tracking, but lose more wealthy, lower-ability students to the private sector. Consequently, socioeconomic status is a predictor of track assignment in public schools. For the entire population, public-sector tracking has small aggregate effects on achievement and welfare, but results in significant redistribution from lower- to higher-ability students. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.