Local Violence, Academic Performance, and School Accountability

Authors

Marcus Casey, University of Illinois at Chicago
Jeffrey C. Schiman, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Maciej Wachala, University of Illinois at Chicago

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-2018

Publication Title

Proceedings of the American Economic Association Annual Meeting

DOI

10.1257/pandp.20181109

ISSN

2574-0776

Abstract

Standardized test scores and value-added measures largely determine "grades" assigned to teachers and schools. Poor evaluations have severe implications: in some cases, entire schools may be closed or replaced by a charter. Although evaluation depends on within-school factors, random shocks external to the school environment may affect measured test performance and evaluations. In this article, we study a salient shock: violent crime. Our results suggest exposure to an additional violent event is associated with decreased test performance. These performance declines are consequential as the schools impacted by within-testing period violent crime are also less likely to meet accountability standards.

Recommended Citation

Casey, Marcus, Jeffrey C. Schiman, Maciej Wachala. 2018. "Local Violence, Academic Performance, and School Accountability." Proceedings of the American Economic Association Annual Meeting, 108: 213-216: American Economic Association. doi: 10.1257/pandp.20181109
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/economics-facpubs/71