Prompt: (a) Imagine you are a school principal that has just learned your middle school will be combined next year with another school whose students have much higher test scores on average. You have to decide whether to group students into homogenous classes according to their prior test scores, or whether to intentionally mix students into heterogeneous groups. Describe what you see as the most compelling economic arguments first for (1) homogenous and then for (2) heterogeneous class groupings, before coming to your conclusion at the end.
Responses should be approximately 2 pages single spaced (~1000 words). This assignment will challenge you to focus on the economic argumentsrelevant to the given debate. These arguments may include botheconomic theory/concepts as well as economic empirical evidence.If you think the topic is missing some key detail necessary to evaluate the alternative arguments, please feel free to make additional assumptions about the context, as long as you clearly state them and why you think it necessary to clarify.After presenting the economic arguments on both sides of the given issue, your assignment should include 1-2 paragraphs stating and explaining your own conclusion.In this conclusion, you may also highlight any limitations of the economic perspective that you think are relevant, or note other perspectives that you think would need to be considered as well. Make sure to present the economic arguments supporting bothpositions in the debate (that is, you should present both the pro and con side before reaching your conclusion). You can structure your argument presenting one side fully, and then the other side fully, or you can alternate point-counterpoint. You have flexibility as long as you address both positions and come to a clear conclusion at the end.
