Accountability , Ability and Disability: Gaming the System

21 Pages Posted: 7 Nov 2002 Last revised: 8 Dec 2022

See all articles by David N. Figlio

David N. Figlio

Northwestern University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Lawrence S. Getzler

Virginia Department of Planning and Budget

Date Written: November 2002

Abstract

The past several years have been marked by a general trend towards increased high-stakes testing for students and schools and test-based school accountability systems. There are many potential school responses to testing programs. This paper investigates the potential that schools respond by gaming the system through reshaping the test pool. Using student-level panel data from six large counties in Florida, we study whether the introduction of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in 1996 led schools to reclassify students as disabled and therefore ineligible to contribute to the school's aggregate test scores. Employing student-level fixed effect models and a series of secular trends as controls, we find that schools tend to reclassify low income and previously low performing students as disabled at significantly higher rates following the introduction of the testing regime. Moreover, these behaviors are concentrated among the low income schools most likely to be on the margin of failing the state's accountability system.

Suggested Citation

Figlio, David N. and Getzler, Lawrence S., Accountability , Ability and Disability: Gaming the System (November 2002). NBER Working Paper No. w9307, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=347079

David N. Figlio (Contact Author)

Northwestern University ( email )

2001 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Cambridge, MA 02138
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Lawrence S. Getzler

Virginia Department of Planning and Budget

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200 North Ninth Street
Richmond, VA 23219-3418
United States

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