Reducing educational disadvantage across post-primary schools: Evidence from the first decade of the DEIS plan in Ireland

Equity in education is a policy priority internationally with policies and programmes designed to reduce gaps between more and less ‘advantaged’ learners. Evidence is mixed about the effectiveness of these, although limited use has been made of experimental or quasi-experimental designs in evaluation. Ireland's main policy response to disadvantage since 2005 is the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme. This study uses a regression discontinuity design (RDD) to examine the effect of DEIS on outcomes for post-primary schools between 2007 and 2016. Using national-level data across this period, we find no impact on school-level outcomes including examination performance and retention rates. Furthermore, we find no effect of DEIS on the percentages of low or high achieving students in key subjects. These null effects are found despite widely-held beliefs that DEIS has had a positive effect. Findings highlight the importance for evidence-informed policy of methods that allow for causal interpretation.