On the basis of data from the Brazilian National Assessment of Basic Education, this paper investigates, in the set of schools attached to each local authority within the capital of Brazilian states, the association of educational policies and 4th grade students' school performances, during the period of 1999-2003. Multilevel cross-classified models were used in order to take into account the structure of the data (students' performance, set of schools and assessment years). Also, the analysis included statistical control for students' socioeconomic levels and for their social composition within the set of schools under the administration of each local authority. The results indicate that merit-based processes for appointing principals, financial autonomy of schools, external assessment of schools, offer of pre-schools' enrollments, and a higher percentage of teachers with more than a high school degree are factors associated to a higher than average school performance. Finally, the consequences for the formulation of the agendas of educational policies are discussed.
EDUCATIONAL POLICIES; TEACHING QUALITY; PUBLIC POLICIES; STUDENTS'S SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
