TY - JOUR
T1 - Using Benefit-Cost Analysis in Special Education
AU - Lewis, Darrell R.
AU - Bruininks, Robert H.
AU - Thurlow, Martha
AU - McGrew, Kevin
PY - 1988/11
Y1 - 1988/11
N2 - With the increasing application of benefit-cost analysis to other social service programs, the public has come to expect that similar economic analysis can be applied to special education. This article reports on some of the issues and problems inherent in such an effort. Data from a large study dealing with the costs and follow-up benefits of special education in public schools are used to illustrate that with appropriately identified and valued costs and benefits, it is possible to employ a formal benefit-cost framework to assess the efficacy and efficiency of special education services. A number of hypothetical comparison groups involving students with mild retardation are offered as illustrations in the use of this evaluation technique.
AB - With the increasing application of benefit-cost analysis to other social service programs, the public has come to expect that similar economic analysis can be applied to special education. This article reports on some of the issues and problems inherent in such an effort. Data from a large study dealing with the costs and follow-up benefits of special education in public schools are used to illustrate that with appropriately identified and valued costs and benefits, it is possible to employ a formal benefit-cost framework to assess the efficacy and efficiency of special education services. A number of hypothetical comparison groups involving students with mild retardation are offered as illustrations in the use of this evaluation technique.
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U2 - 10.1177/001440298805500302
DO - 10.1177/001440298805500302
M3 - Article
C2 - 3145206
AN - SCOPUS:0024114622
SN - 0014-4029
VL - 55
SP - 203
EP - 214
JO - Exceptional children
JF - Exceptional children
IS - 3
ER -