School Progression and the Grade Distribution of Students: Evidence from the Current Population Survey

Elizabeth Cascio

No 1747, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Education researchers have long made inferences about grade retention from the grade distribution of same-aged students. Recent economics studies have followed suit. This paper examines the validity of the "below grade" proxy for retention using data from supplemental questionnaires administered in the U.S. Current Population Survey during the 1990s. I estimate that 21% of non-repeaters are below grade, while 12% of repeaters are not. Misclassification attenuates regression coefficients by 35% when the proxy is an outcome and by 65% when it is a regressor. The latter figure is a benchmark, as classification and regression errors are arguably correlated. Biases are likely substantial in other surveys and time periods.

Keywords: grade retention; misclassification; nonclassical measurement error (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C81 I21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 35 pages
Date: 2005-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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