The Impact of the Great Recession on Student Scores in Florida: Did School Ratings Matter?

Previous research showed that the Great Recession of 2007-2008 had negative e:ects on student test scores. 8ese declines were linked, in part, to the negative e:ects of states' educational budget cuts or less spending per student. Using individual student test scores, this paper examines whether the level of school quality (as measured by criterion-referenced tests) cushioned the negative e:ects of this decline in spending. Preliminary results show that student scores in higher-rated school districts declined as a result of the recession's cuts, but by less than lower-rated school districts.