CPRC

Past Research:  Professor Reback's research focuses on the economics of education, especially as it relates to domestic elementary and secondary school policies.  He has published research articles concerning school accountability programs, inter-district school choice policies, teacher labor markets, and schools’ mental health services.  His recent study of elementary school counselors, “Schools’ Mental Heath Services and Young Children’s Emotions, Behavior, and Learning,” was published in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.  His work has been recognized by grants and awards from the Institute for Education Sciences, the Spencer Foundation, the American Education Research Association, the Association for Education Finance and Policy, and the National Institute of Mental Health. 

Present Research:  Reback is continuing his research on the effects of school accountability programs by working with co-authors on a national study of the impact of accountability pressure from No Child Left Behind on teachers' time use and career plans and on students' achievement and enjoyment of learning.  In two other ongoing studies related to school finance, Reback examines the indirect effects of finance policies on K-12 schools—one study examines how property tax rebates for elderly homeowners affects local public school revenues, and the other study examines how school districts' budget decisions affect revenues and expenditures in neighboring school districts.  Reback and his co-authors are also studying the effects of states' inter-district public school choice programs on household location decisions and house prices.

Future Research:  Reback plans to continue to study the importance of students' mental health, social skills, and behavior.  He is interested in testing whether greater provision of mental health services in schools ultimately result in lower crime rates and greater high school graduation rates.  He is also interested in examining teachers' ability to determine which of their students face the greatest emotional, behavioral, or psychological challenges.

Professor Reback's Research Page