We examine the impact of inclusive education on students with special educational needs (SEN) using a reform in the Netherlands. The reform shifted budgets for special education between regions: some regions had budget cuts of 30-35%. The percentage of students in special education decreased in regions with budget cuts, particularly among students most likely to require special education. We use the budget cuts as an instrumental variable for regular education attendance and conclude that students with SEN have benefitted from the reform. Students who went to regular secondary education because of the budget cuts more often obtained a starting qualification degree at age 18, 19 and 20. This result cannot be explained by changes in the student/teacher ratio. The results indicate that an inclusive education setting is beneficial for students at the margin of special education.
LEARN! Research Seminar by Nienke Ruijs 18 March 2025 16:00 - 17:00
About LEARN! Research Seminar by Nienke Ruijs
Starting date
- 18 March 2025
Time
- 16:00 - 17:00
Language
- English
Dr. Nienke Ruijs
Nienke Ruijs is a senior researcher at Education Lab at Maastricht University. Her research focuses on education policy and student outcomes. She is particularly interested in teacher shortages and in students with special educational needs.
Nienke has a strong multidisciplinary background. She previously worked as a senior researcher at the Dutch Education inspectorate and as a postdoctoral researcher in education sciences at the UvA. She holds a PhD in education economics, a master’s degree in developmental psychology and a research master degree in educational sciences, all from the UvA. Her work has been published in leading academic journals, including Economics of Education Review and Education Finance and Policy
