School Accountability, Long-Run Criminal Activity, and Self-Sufficiency* Ozkan Eren, David Figlio, Naci Mocan and Orgul Ozturk This paper examines the impact of school accountability on adult crime and economic self-sufficiency. We employ a unique source of linked administrative data from a Southern state and exploit exogenous variation generated by the state‘s accountability regime. Our findings indicate that a school‘s receipt of a lower accountability rating, at the bottom end of the ratings distribution, decreases their students‘ criminal involvement and the likelihood of being incarcerated in adulthood. However, we do not find any meaningful relationship between a lower accountability rating and enrollment in social welfare programs. Further examination of the mechanisms reveals that accountability pressures prompted schools to implement policies that led to changes in school climate.

What happens when schools fail? It might be good. Ozkan Eren, David Figlio, Naci Mocan & @orgulozturk.bsky.social
found schools that failed their #AccountabilityRating saw a lasting reduction in students' adult #CriminalActivity - they were 12% less likely to be arrested.
doi.org/10.3368/jhr....