How Does Reducing the Intensity of Tracking Affect Student Achievement and Equity? Evidence from German State Reforms

Priority Programme 1646 "Education as a Lifelong Process. Analyzing Data of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS)"

Central questions and targets

This project aims to identify the effect of a reduction in the intensity of tracking on the level and equity of student outcomes in German school systems. It will investigate de-tracking reforms that were implemented in several German states and analyse their effects on students’ achievement scores, attainment of 10th grade, secondary-school degree, and grade repetition. It will also study heterogeneous effects by students’ socio-economic background. The rich NEPS data available enable us to study several possible channels of reform effects.

Methodology

To identify the effect of a reduction in the intensity of tracking on the level and equity of student outcomes in German school systems, the project exploits the de-tracking reforms of several German states in a difference-in-differences approach. For the main analysis, the project uses the 5th-grade and the 9th-grade cohort of the National Education Panel Study (NEPS).
 

Data and other sources

National Education Panel Study (NEPS)