RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Using Achievement Tests to Measure Language Assimilation and Language Bias among the Children of Immigrants
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 647
OP 667
DO 10.3368/jhr.46.3.647
VO 46
IS 3
A1 Richard Akresh
A1 Ilana Redstone Akresh
YR 2011
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/46/3/647.abstract
AB We measure the extent of language assimilation among children of Hispanic immigrants. Our identification strategy exploits test language randomization (English or Spanish) of Woodcock Johnson achievement tests in the New Immigrant Survey and lets us attribute test score differences solely to test language. Students scoring poorly may be tracked into nonhonors classes and less competitive postsecondary schools, with subsequent long-term implications. Foreign-born children score higher on tests in Spanish; U. S.-born children score higher in English. However, foreign-born children arriving at an early age or with several years in the United States do not benefit from testing in Spanish.