ERIC Number: EJ1096369
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1557-3060
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
School Choice, Student Mobility, and School Quality: Evidence from Post-Katrina New Orleans
Welsh, Richard O.; Duque, Matthew; McEachin, Andrew
Education Finance and Policy, v11 n2 p150-176 Spr 2016
In recent decades, school choice policies predicated on student mobility have gained prominence as urban districts address chronically low-performing schools. However, scholars have highlighted equity concerns related to choice policies. The case of post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans provides an opportunity to examine student mobility patterns in a choice-based district. This paper analyzes student mobility between and within the various sectors and school types using a multinomial framework. We find rates of student mobility in post-Katrina New Orleans to be similar to other traditional urban school districts. Overall, our results indicate that high-achieving students switch to high-quality schools whereas low-achieving students transfer to low-quality schools. It is clear some students are taking advantage of the ability to choose a high-quality educational option, although many students are still not. Policy implications, especially for education policy makers implementing or considering school choice policies, and areas for future research are discussed.
Descriptors: School Choice, Student Mobility, Educational Quality, Natural Disasters, School Effectiveness, Equal Education, Educational Policy, Low Achievement, High Achievement, School Districts, Research Needs, Elementary Secondary Education, Urban Areas, Institutional Characteristics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Louisiana
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A