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Author: LaFontaine, Paul A.
Resulting in 3 citations.
1. Heckman, James J.
LaFontaine, Paul A.
Bias Corrected Estimates of GED Returns
NBER Working Paper No. 12018, National Bureau of Economic Research, January 2006.
Also: http://www.nber.org/papers/w12018
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
Keyword(s): Armed Forces Qualifications Test (AFQT); Current Population Survey (CPS) / CPS-Fertility Supplement; Education; GED/General Educational Diploma/General Equivalency Degree/General Educational Development; High School Completion/Graduates; High School Dropouts; Minorities; Nonresponse

Using three sources of data, this paper examines the direct economic return to GED certification for both native and immigrant high school dropouts. One data source – the CPS – is plagued by nonresponse and allocation bias from the hot-deck procedure that biases upward the estimated return to the GED. Correcting for allocation bias and ability bias, there is no direct economic return to GED certification. An apparent return to GED certification with age found in the raw CPS data is due to dropouts becoming more skilled over time. These results apply to native born as well as immigrant populations.
Bibliography Citation
Heckman, James J. and Paul A. LaFontaine. "Bias Corrected Estimates of GED Returns." NBER Working Paper No. 12018, National Bureau of Economic Research, January 2006.
2. Heckman, James J.
LaFontaine, Paul A.
The American High School Graduation Rate: Trends and Levels
NBER Working Paper 13670, National Bureau of Economic Research, December 2007.
Also: http://www.nber.org/papers/w13670
Cohort(s): NLSY79, NLSY97, Young Men, Young Women
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
Keyword(s): Educational Aspirations/Expectations; Gender Differences; High School Completion/Graduates; Methods/Methodology

This paper uses multiple data sources and a unified methodology to estimate the trends and levels of the U.S. high school graduation rate. Correcting for important biases that plague previous calculations, we establish that (a) the true high school graduation rate is substantially lower than the official rate issued by the National Center for Educational Statistics; (b) it has been declining over the past 40 years; (c) majority/minority graduation rate differentials are substantial and have not converged over the past 35 years; (d) the decline in high school graduation rates occurs among native populations and is not solely a consequence of increasing proportions of immigrants and minorities in American society; (e) the decline in high school graduation explains part of the recent slowdown in college attendance; and (f) the pattern of the decline of high school graduation rates by gender helps to explain the recent increase in male-female college attendance gaps.
Bibliography Citation
Heckman, James J. and Paul A. LaFontaine. "The American High School Graduation Rate: Trends and Levels." NBER Working Paper 13670, National Bureau of Economic Research, December 2007.
3. Heckman, James J.
LaFontaine, Paul A.
The American High School Graduation Rate: Trends and Levels
IZA Discussion Paper No. 3216, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), December 2007
Cohort(s): NLSY79, NLSY97, Young Men, Young Women
Publisher: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
Keyword(s): Educational Aspirations/Expectations; GED/General Educational Diploma/General Equivalency Degree/General Educational Development; Gender Differences; High School and Beyond (HSB); High School Completion/Graduates; High School Diploma; National Education Longitudinal Survey (NELS); National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (AddHealth)

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

This paper uses multiple data sources and a unified methodology to estimate the trends and levels of the U.S. high school graduation rate. Correcting for important biases that plague previous calculations, we establish that (a) the true high school graduation rate is substantially lower than the official rate issued by the National Center for Educational Statistics; (b) it has been declining over the past 40 years; (c) majority/minority graduation rate differentials are substantial and have not converged over the past 35 years; (d) the decline in high school graduation rates occurs among native populations and is not solely a consequence of increasing proportions of immigrants and minorities in American society; (e) the decline in high school graduation explains part of the recent slowdown in college attendance; and (f) the pattern of the decline of high school graduation rates by gender helps to explain the recent increase in male-female college attendance gaps.
Bibliography Citation
Heckman, James J. and Paul A. LaFontaine. "The American High School Graduation Rate: Trends and Levels." IZA Discussion Paper No. 3216, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), December 2007.