The Long-Run Effects of Consequential School Accountability

Jonathan Mansfield and David Slichter

Journal of Labor Economics, 2026, vol. 44, issue 1, 53 - 81

Abstract: The rise of accountability programs was perhaps the most noticeable change in American education during the 1990s and early 2000s. We measure how these programs affected students’ long-run outcomes. We find increases in income, occupational skill level, and attainment, though the labor market effects are insignificant in most specifications. A typical accountability regime with high-stakes testing in seven grades increased attainment by 0.1 years. Last, the pattern of occupational skill usage does not support concerns about teaching to the test. Our results suggest that accountability was more likely beneficial than harmful for students’ human capital.

Date: 2026
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