The Black–White Education Scaled Test-Score Gap in Grades K-7

Timothy Bond and Kevin Lang

Journal of Human Resources, 2018, vol. 53, issue 4, 891-917

Abstract: We measure the black–white achievement gap from kindergarten through seventh grade on an interval scale created by tying each grade–test score combination to average eventual education. After correcting for various sources of test measurement error, some of which are unique to forward-looking scales, we find no racial component in the evolution of the achievement gap through the first eight years of schooling. Further, most, if not all, of the gap can be explained by socioeconomic differences. Our results suggest that the rising racial test gap in previous studies probably reflects excessive measurement error in testing in the early grades.

JEL-codes: I21 I24 J15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.53.4.0916-8242R
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Black-White Education-Scaled Test-Score Gap in Grades K-7 (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:53:y:2018:i:4:p:891-917

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