Assessing the Effects of School Resources on Student Performance: An Update

Abstract

Metaanalysis that finds that there is not a strong or consistent relationship between student performance and school resources, at least after variations in family inputs are taken into account. State-to-state comparisons do not account for different policy environments in different states, most comparisons do not value-added. Hanushek refutes other metaanalysis by Hedges, et al. Tennessee STAR did find effects but Hanushek thinks it shows that class size reductions are only important in early grades and that it's a shame there's been no follow-up experiment. Recommends incentivizing student gains in pay structures for teachers, work of schools(?) since mandates from states re: how to spend $ not related to stude