China's Rural–Urban Migration and Children's Access to Compulsory Education: Policy Evolution and Consequences

• In Event: 16.059 - Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: 16.059-6 - Division L Section 7 Poster Session

Abstract

This paper evaluates China’s policies pertaining to the education of rural-urban migrants from 2000 to the present time and analyzes the intended and unintended consequences of this policy evolution for children’s educational opportunities and outcomes using a nationally-representative survey. The paper provides evidence that China has made an enormous progress toward equal opportunity to school enrollment but fallen short in equal learning opportunities and outcomes. The comprehensive national patterns and regional variations offer a unique lens to advance our understanding of why some policies are more effective than others to move the nation’s free, compulsory education forward. Four lessons drawn from the analysis will inform policy makers to address institutional obstacles.

Authors

• Lingxin Hao, Johns Hopkins University

• Xiao Yu, Johns Hopkins University