Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Practice: Interventions to Improve High School Completion. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hollands, Fiona; Bowden, A. Brooks; Belfield, Clive; Levin, Henry M.; Cheng, Henan; Shand, Robert; Pan, Yilin; Hanisch-Cerda, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Educational evaluation and policy analysis. Volume 36:Number 3(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 307
• Page End: 326
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: cost-effectiveness -- dropout prevention -- high school completion -- ingredients method -- cost analysis; Education -- Evaluation -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; 370.7
• DOI: 10.3102/0162373713511850
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0162-3737

Abstract

In this article, we perform cost-effectiveness analysis on interventions that improve the rate of high school completion. Using the What Works Clearinghouse to select effective interventions, we calculate cost-effectiveness ratios for five youth interventions. We document wide variation in cost-effectiveness ratios between programs and between sites within multisite programs, reflecting differences in resource use, program implementation, and target population characteristics. We offer suggestions as to how cost-effectiveness data can be used to inform policymaking, with the goal of improving the efficiency with which public and private resources are employed in education.