A Propensity Score Matching Analysis of the Effects of Special Education Services

Overview

Journal J Spec Educ

Date 2013 Apr 23

PMID 23606759

Citations 32

Authors

Paul L Morgan

Michelle Frisco

George Farkas

Jacob Hibel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We sought to quantify the effectiveness of special education services as naturally delivered in U.S. schools. Specifically, we examined whether children receiving special education services displayed (a) greater reading or mathematics skills, (b) more frequent learning-related behaviors, or (c) less frequent externalizing or internalizing problem behaviors than closely matched peers not receiving such services. To do so, we used propensity score matching techniques to analyze data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal-Study Kindergarten Cohort, 1998-1999, a large scale, nationally representative sample of U.S. schoolchildren. Collectively, results indicate that receipt of special education services has either a negative or statistically non-significant impact on children's learning or behavior. However, special education services do yield a small, positive effect on children's learning-related behaviors.

Citing Articles

Social Contributors to Differences in Math Course Attainment Among Adolescents with and without Learning Disabilities and ADHD.

Shifrer D, Frederick A, Freeman D, Ellefritz H, Springer R Soc Sci Res. 2024; 126:103096.

PMID: 39669720 PMC: 11633642. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2024.103096.

Administration and Scoring Errors on the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement: Before and During COVID-19.

Lockwood A, Klatka K, Parker B, Benson N J Psychoeduc Assess. 2024; 41(5):501-513.

PMID: 38602923 PMC: 10080173. DOI: 10.1177/07342829231166725.

U.S. Ninth Graders' Math Course Placement at the Intersection of Learning Disability Status, Race, and Socioeconomic Status.

Shifrer D AERA Open. 2024; 9.

PMID: 38464617 PMC: 10921421. DOI: 10.1177/23328584231186612.

Developmental Trajectory of Conduct Problems Among Boys and Girls Receiving Psychoeducational Services at Elementary Schools.

Dery M, Temcheff C, Poirier M, Boutin S, Lapalme M, Lemieux A Can J Sch Psychol. 2023; 38(4):287-301.

PMID: 37869732 PMC: 10584659. DOI: 10.1177/08295735231198747.

Early intervention for children at risk for reading disabilities: The impact of grade at intervention and individual differences on intervention outcomes.

Lovett M, Frijters J, Wolf M, Steinbach K, Sevcik R, Morris R J Educ Psychol. 2022; 109(7):889-914.

PMID: 35664550 PMC: 9164258. DOI: 10.1037/edu0000181.

References

Rubin D . Estimating causal effects from large data sets using propensity scores. Ann Intern Med. 1998; 127(8 Pt 2):757-63. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-127-8_part_2-199710151-00064. View

Snow Jones A, DAgostino Jr R, Gondolf E, Heckert A . Assessing the effect of batterer program completion on reassault using propensity scores. J Interpers Violence. 2004; 19(9):1002-20. DOI: 10.1177/0886260504268005. View

La Greca A, Stone W . LD status and achievement: confounding variables in the study of children's social status, self-esteem, and behavioral functioning. J Learn Disabil. 1990; 23(8):483-90. DOI: 10.1177/002221949002300806. View

Lachin J . Statistical considerations in the intent-to-treat principle. Control Clin Trials. 2000; 21(3):167-89. DOI: 10.1016/s0197-2456(00)00046-5. View

Green K, Ensminger M . Adult social behavioral effects of heavy adolescent marijuana use among African Americans. Dev Psychol. 2006; 42(6):1168-78. PMC: 5784847. DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.42.6.1168. View

Andrews H, Goldberg D, Wellen N, Pittman B, Struening E . Prediction of special education placement from birth certificate data. Am J Prev Med. 1995; 11(3 Suppl):55-61. View

Frisco M, Muller C, Frank K . Parents' Union Dissolution and Adolescents' School Performance: Comparing Methodological Approaches. J Marriage Fam. 2010; 69(3):721-741. PMC: 2839245. DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00402.x. View

Fergusson D, Woodward L . Mental health, educational, and social role outcomes of adolescents with depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002; 59(3):225-31. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.59.3.225. View

Gersten R, Vaughn S, Deshler D, SCHILLER E . What we know about using research findings: implications for improving special education practice. J Learn Disabil. 1997; 30(5):466-76. DOI: 10.1177/002221949703000501. View

10.

Harknett K . Does receiving an earnings supplement affect union formation? Estimating effects for program participants using propensity score matching. Eval Rev. 2006; 30(6):741-78. DOI: 10.1177/0193841X06293411. View

11.

Katusic S, Colligan R, Barbaresi W, Schaid D, Jacobsen S . Incidence of reading disability in a population-based birth cohort, 1976-1982, Rochester, Minn. Mayo Clin Proc. 2001; 76(11):1081-92. DOI: 10.4065/76.11.1081. View

12.

Howlin P, Gordon R, Pasco G, Wade A, Charman T . The effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) training for teachers of children with autism: a pragmatic, group randomised controlled trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2007; 48(5):473-81. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01707.x. View

13.

Petkova E, Teresi J . Some statistical issues in the analyses of data from longitudinal studies of elderly chronic care populations. Psychosom Med. 2002; 64(3):531-47. DOI: 10.1097/00006842-200205000-00018. View

14.

Stone R, Obrosky D, Singer D, Kapoor W, Fine M . Propensity score adjustment for pretreatment differences between hospitalized and ambulatory patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) Investigators. Med Care. 1995; 33(4 Suppl):AS56-66. View

15.

Mannerkoski M, Aberg L, Autti T, Hoikkala M, Sarna S, Heiskala H . Newborns at risk for special education placement: a population-based study. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2007; 11(4):223-31. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2007.01.005. View

16.

Hibel J, Farkas G, Morgan P . WHO IS PLACED INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION?. Sociol Educ. 2015; 83(4):312-332. PMC: 4441335. DOI: 10.1177/0038040710383518. View

17.

Luellen J, Shadish W, Clark M . Propensity scores: an introduction and experimental test. Eval Rev. 2005; 29(6):530-58. DOI: 10.1177/0193841X05275596. View

18.

Hollomon H, Dobbins D, SCOTT K . The effects of biological and social risk factors on special education placement: birth weight and maternal education as an example. Res Dev Disabil. 1998; 19(3):281-94. DOI: 10.1016/s0891-4222(98)00002-x. View

19.

Schaeffer C, Petras H, Ialongo N, Poduska J, Kellam S . Modeling growth in boys' aggressive behavior across elementary school: links to later criminal involvement, conduct disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Dev Psychol. 2003; 39(6):1020-35. DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.39.6.1020. View