Florida Educational Research Association. Organizational Structure, Instructional Quality, and Student Achievement: The Case of Public and Private Schools

• In Event: Consortium of State and Regional Educational Research Associations Distinguished Paper Session 4

Abstract

This study investigates whether public and private schools differ in their instructional cores and whether such differences translate into achievement advantages in the US. The study uses structural equation modeling and propensity score matching to examine the latent construct of instructional quality and mitigate selection bias. It uses Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) student questionnaires and achievement data. Results indicate that public and private schools have similar instructional qualities. The organizational differences between public and private schools do not inspire differences in their technical core. Such similarity explains why student achievement does not substantially differ by school type. Barriers to achieving instructional change through market-oriented reforms are discussed.
Keywords: School choice, organizational reform, instructional quality

Author

• Yusuf Canbolat, Indiana University
  Presenting Author