Embedded Files
Education Policy
Education Policy
FACULTY: Erilia Wu
TEAM: Weiyi Jiang, Afreen Khimani, Yining Wang, Zhankai Xiang
Florida’s public education system oversees statewide policies such as the Class Size Reduction (CSR) mandate, which shifted compliance from district-level to school-wide averages in 2006 to improve educational equity and resource allocation. This work matters because understanding the causal impact of CSR policy changes on student achievement is critical for shaping equitable and effective education strategies. The Capstone team was tasked with estimating the causal effect of this transition on Grades 3–5 student outcomes using Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) data. The team applied a Regression Discontinuity (RD) design to analyze test scores from approximately 3,100 schools, isolating the policy’s impact at the compliance cutoff. Final findings revealed a statistically significant decline in standardized test performance post-transition, offering policymakers evidence to refine CSR implementation and optimize resource distribution for equitable student success.
Impact of Upzoning Policies on Family Composition in NYC
Impact of Upzoning Policies on Family Composition in NYC
FACULTY: Erilia Wu
TEAM: Freda Cai, Grace Francese, Eno Sun, Meredith Wilsey, Tianao Zhang
Upzoning in New York City is a policy tool to address housing shortages and promote affordable housing development. While prior studies have analyzed upzoning’s effects on rents and demographics, its impact on families with children—potentially linked to shortages of two-plus bedroom units—remains understudied. Understanding these dynamics is critical to ensuring housing policies do not inadvertently displace families or worsen inequities. This study investigates the causal effects of upzoning on family size and composition by linking NYC spatial rezoning data with longitudinal census data from the American Community Survey. Researchers applied Callaway & Sant’Anna’s difference-in-differences methodology for staggered upzoning implementation across neighborhoods. The final report identifies changes in neighborhood demographics post-upzoning, revealing unintended consequences of policies aimed at alleviating the housing crisis. Findings aim to inform equitable housing strategies by clarifying how development policies shape family dynamics and demographic patterns.
Page updated
Report abuse