English proficiency and mathematics test scores of immigrant children in the US

Ainoa Aparicio

Economics of Education Review, 2018, vol. 64, issue C, 102-113

Abstract: This paper explores whether native-immigrant differences in mathematics test scores can be accounted for by a lack of English proficiency. To identify the causal effect of English proficiency on test scores, I use the fact that language proficiency is closely linked to age at arrival, and that migrant children arrive at different ages from different countries. Using US data from the New Immigrant Survey, I find that English proficiency has no effect on mathematics tests and therefore they can be used to assess students’ ability net of language effects.

Keywords: Standardized tests; English proficiency; Immigrant children; Age at arrival; English-speaking countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I20 J13 J15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:64:y:2018:i:c:p:102-113

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2018.04.003

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