School Entrance Recommendation: A Question of Age or Development?

29 Pages Posted: 27 Jul 2010

See all articles by Julia Horstschräer

Julia Horstschräer

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

Grit Mühler

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

Date Written: July 19, 2010

Abstract

According to school entry regulations in most countries, the composition of school entrance cohorts is determined by a fixed cutoff date. This procedure creates inter-cohort differences in age and development which can severely influence educational trajectories. Developmental examinations at school entry might be an instrument to mitigate these differences by delaying school entry for children with developmental impairments. Using data on the compulsory school entrance screening in the German federal state of Brandenburg, this paper shows that age and developmental status are the major influencing factors for a child's probability to receive a school recommendation. Younger children and children with impairments in cognitive, socio-emotional and motor development as well as health are less likely to be recommended. Delaying school entry allows them to improve, although their developmental status remains below average. School entrance examinations thus allow for some harmonization of school cohorts with respect to age and developmental differences.

Keywords: Child Development, School Entrance, School Recommendation, Relative Age

JEL Classification: J13, I21, I38

Suggested Citation

Horstschräer, Julia and Mühler, Grit, School Entrance Recommendation: A Question of Age or Development? (July 19, 2010). ZEW - Centre for European Economic Research Discussion Paper No. 10-047, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1649459 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1649459

Julia Horstschräer (Contact Author)

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research ( email )

P.O. Box 10 34 43
L 7,1
D-68034 Mannheim, 68034
Germany

Grit Mühler

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research ( email )

P.O. Box 10 34 43
L 7,1
D-68034 Mannheim, 68034
Germany

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