Abstract

• Using Achievement Tests to Measure Language Assimilation and Language Bias among the Children of Immigrants, (with Ilana Redstone Akresh), Journal of Human Resources, 2011, 46(3): 647-667.

Abstract: 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 non-honors classes and less competitive post-secondary 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 U.S. do not benefit from testing in Spanish.