Education Report Roundup

District Competition

By Sean Cavanagh — February 15, 2005 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A new study argues that findings of potential links between school district competition and improved student academic performance, as cited in a previous study, are overstated and need to be studied more carefully.

“Does Competition Among Public Schools Benefit Students and Taxpayers? A Comment on Hoxby” is available online from Education Research Section at Princeton University. ()

Jesse Rothstein, an assistant professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, is the author of the new study, which analyzes research published in 2000 by Harvard University professor Caroline M. Hoxby. In her work, Ms. Hoxby explored the potential academic benefits of having several relatively small districts competing within metropolitan areas.

In his study, Mr. Rothstein says there is little evidence that the district competition cited by Ms. Hoxby actually affected student performance. More direct studies of competition-based programs, such as tuition vouchers, are needed before policymakers should accept them as effective, he writes.

A version of this article appeared in the February 16, 2005 edition of Education Week

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Personalized Learning Webinar
Expanding Teacher Impact: Scaling Personalized Learning Across Districts
Explore personalized learning strategies that transform classrooms and empower educators.
Content provided by DreamBox Learning
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
How to Leverage Virtual Learning: Preparing Students for the Future
Hear from an expert panel how best to leverage virtual learning in your district to achieve your goals.
Content provided by Class
English-Language Learners Webinar AI and English Learners: What Teachers Need to Know
Explore the role of AI in multilingual education and its potential limitations.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education From Our Research Center What's on the Minds of Educators, in Charts
Politics, gender equity, and technology—how teachers and administrators say these issues are affecting the field.
1 min read
Stylized illustration of a pie chart
Traci Daberko for Education Week
Education Briefly Stated: August 30, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: August 23, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: August 16, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read