Does Reducing Early School Tracking Affect Health Behaviors?

Abstract

This paper examines how delaying the age of school tracking affects long-term health behaviors and access to preventive care. I exploit a reform of the French middle school system, which delayed the placement of students into vocational and academic education by two years. Tracking was mostly replaced by grouping students into achievement-based classrooms. I find that the reform has no significant effects on health behaviors that are associated with increased mortality, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, an d obesity. It does, however, increase the likelihood of getting on-time preventive screening for chronic illnesses, such as cholesterol and glycemic index tests.