Testing above the limit: Drinking water contamination and test scores
利用北卡罗来纳州学生考试成绩、住址和水质违规数据，研究发现学校年度内暴露于细菌超标饮用水会使数学成绩下降约0.038个标准差，且仅在公众未及时获知违规时影响显著。
This paper provides estimates of the contemporaneous effect of drinking water quality violations on students’ academic achievement. Using student-level test score data with residential addresses, geographic information on water systems, and drinking water violations from North Carolina, I estimate the within-student impacts of poor water quality on student test scores. Exposure to a bacteria violation during the school year decreases math scores by about 0.038 standard deviations when the public is uninformed. Results suggest that poor water quality may impact retention or comprehension of material throughout the school year. • Poor drinking water quality decreases math scores by about 0.038 standard deviations. • Only violations with delayed public notification significantly impact test scores. • Poor water quality may impact learning throughout the school year.