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  3. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
  4. October 2016
  5. Buy the Book? Evidence on the Effect of Textbook Funding on School-Level Achievement

Buy the Book? Evidence on the Effect of Textbook Funding on School-Level Achievement

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Abstract

This paper considers the effect of textbook funding on school-level test performance by using a quasi-experimental setting in the United States. I consider a lawsuit in California that provided a one-time payment of $96.90 per student for textbooks if schools fell below a threshold of academic performance. Exploiting this variation with a regression discontinuity (RD) design, I find that textbook funding has significant positive effects on school-level achievement in elementary schools and has a high benefit-per-dollar. In contrast to elementary schools, I find no effect in middle and high schools though these estimates are very imprecise.

Citation

Holden, Kristian L. 2016. "Buy the Book? Evidence on the Effect of Textbook Funding on School-Level Achievement." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 8 (4): 100-127. DOI: 10.1257/app.20150112

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • H75 State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions
  • I21 Analysis of Education
  • I22 Educational Finance; Financial Aid
  • I24 Education and Inequality
  • I28 Education: Government Policy
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