The third study looking at the impacts of Marcellus Shale natural gas development on Pennsylvania’s children and education system highlights some of the expected effects have not taken place, Gant Daily reports.

The study used data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the federal Department of Education’s Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as well as from data from northern and southwestern counties.

In terms of school enrollment, numbers are still steady in their decline. Dropout rates haven’t changed much, and neither have student demographics. However, the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches remained above state averages in nearly half of the counties surveyed, implying that a significant number of students remained economically disadvantaged.

Via: Gant Daily > Study Explores Marcellus Shale Gas Development and Impacts on Pennsylvania Schools and Education