Coursework: ITP Seminar

Dr. Gamoran has shared the two attached articles for audience members to review prior to his talk. 


Title: Social Impact is Still the Future of Higher Education
Abstract: Universities are under attack from many directions. Accused of hoarding resources, political bias, and not delivering value for money, universities struggle to respond to critical environments and demonstrate their value. At the same time, an approach to social science research that is gathering momentum may provide the key to turning hostility into appreciation. By pursuing community-engaged research, in partnership with state and local leaders of public agencies and private non-profits, university researchers can solve real-world problems and make a difference in the lives of their constituents. This strategy appears to build local support for universities and their research enterprises.

Emily Rauscher, Professor of Sociology at Brown University
Title: Priceless Benefits: Effects of School Spending onChild Mortality

Abstract:

The benefits of school spending go beyond academic and economic outcomes to improve child health and well-being. We use close school district tax elections (1995-2018), National Vital Statistics mortality data, and a regression discontinuity approach to estimate effects of a quasi-random increase in school spending on county-level child mortality. We find that increased school spending from passing a tax election reduces child mortality. Districts that narrowly passed a proposed tax increase spent an additional $262 per pupil, mostly on instruction and salaries, and had 4% lower child mortality after spending increased, equivalent to -3.6 fewer child deaths per 100,000 children for each $1,000 increase in spending per pupil. We replicate our study using progressive school finance reforms and county-level difference-in-differences analyses and find consistent results. Estimates predicting potential mechanisms suggest that lower child mortality partly reflects increases in the number of teachers and counselors, higher teacher salaries, and improved student engagement.