Educational Inequality Regimes amid Algebra-for-All

The Provision and Allocation of Expanding Educational Opportunities

Bibliographic Data

ID18972739
AuthorsPaul Hanselman (0000-0003-1802-1830, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA, corresponding author), Thurston Domina (0000-0003-0161-3215, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA), Nayoung Hwang (0000-0002-5885-0409, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA)
Year2022
Volume100
Issue4
Pages1722-1751
Publication date2022-04-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Forces (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0037-7732 • E-ISSN: 1534-7605
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/sf/soab052
PMID35935035
OpenAlexW3164097121
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited53

Schools can approach the task of sorting students to privileged learning opportunities in different ways, potentially creating distinct and durable educational inequality regimes. We test this idea by exploring variation in socioeconomic inequalities in advanced mathematics course-taking across California middle schools during a statewide algebra-for-all initiative. This case provides unique insight into local stratification processes since the state pressured schools to boost advanced course enrollments but provided little guidance about how to do so. We distinguish two critical organizational processes: the provision of different types of opportunities and the allocation of students to opportunities. The former, we argue, creates the potential for inequality; the latter determines what level of inequality is realized. Using panel data for all public middle schools in the state over a decade, we demonstrate a curvilinear association between opportunities and inequality, with disparities highest when opportunities are most differentiated. However, allocations at most schools were less unequal than would be expected under a test-based meritocratic allocation regime. Further, we find substantial school-level variation which is systematically related to organizational characteristics and consistent over time. These patterns provide evidence for local educational inequality regimes

Demographic economics · Economics · Educational inequality · Inequality · Mathematics education · Meritocracy · Political science · Population · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Sorting · Test (biology) · Computer Science · Demography · Higher Education Research Studies · Intergenerational and Educational Inequality Studies · Mathematics · Psychology · School Choice and Performance

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