LCFF-induced spending increases reduced the probability of grade repetition, particularly in elementary school¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2023 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? A $1,000 per-pupil spending increase experienced for 3 consecutive years reduced the probability of grade repetition by 5 percentage points by 3rd grade, 5.1 points by 4th grade, and 5.3 points by 5th grade. → Johnson 2023

Evidence¶

Johnson 2023¶

Johnson, R. C. (2023). School funding effectiveness: Evidence from California's Local Control Funding Formula. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/529.194

q2 · i? · causal · r2

Quasi-experimental analysis of grade progression for California students followed since kindergarten, examining repetition as an outcome of school funding conditions. No standardised effect size is printed for this finding.

"a $1,000 increase in per-pupil spending experienced for 3 consecutive years led to a 5 percentage-point reduction in the probability of students experiencing grade repetition by 3rd grade, a corresponding 5.1 percentage-point reduction by 4th grade, and a 5.3 percentage-point reduction in the likelihood of grade repetition by the end of elementary school (5th grade)."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Research on school finance reforms finds increased spending improves educational and life outcomes, with larger effects for students from low-income backgrounds, including causal evidence from California's Local Control Funding Formula — a broader claim this one bears on
• Student outcome improvements from LCFF funding were more pronounced for cohorts exposed to funding increases for more of their school-age years — related
• LCFF-induced spending increases reduced suspensions and expulsions, with larger effects for boys and the most pronounced effects for Black students — related
• Having older classmates boosts a child’s test scores but increases the probability of grade repetition and diagnoses of learning disabilities such as ADHD — related
• LCFF-induced spending increases of $1,000 per pupil for 3 consecutive years produced roughly a full grade-level increase in math and reading achievement in grades 3–8 — related
• A $1,000 per-pupil spending increase across high school raised graduation likelihood by 8.2 percentage points, and 3 consecutive years of increased high school spending raised college-readiness standards attainment in math and reading — related
• A $1,000 increase in district per-pupil revenue in grades 10–12 was associated with a 5.3 percentage-point increase in high school graduation rates in California — related
• Spending effects varied across schools but were positive for every school that experienced the LCFF funding infusion — related
• LCFF-induced per-pupil spending increases caused improvements in math and reading achievement in districts receiving concentration grants — related