A computer simulation of school district economics: modeling allocation effects of choice programs

Abstract

Evaluators can use cost-effectiveness analysis to help policy makers choose a course for improving student achievement. However, existing cost estimates of one such course, school choice programs, ignore significant non-linear allocation effects created by these policies. These effects are too complex for description by systems of equations; a computer simulation is required to create a more accurate and portable method of estimating these costs. Although the specific numeric findings are specific to a single state for a single year, the general behavior of the system indicates that allocation costs do exist for school choice programs, and they cannot be considered cost-neutral.