Despite decentralization reforms of education systems worldwide, there is little empirical evidence about the processes through which decentralization can improve student learning. Proponents theorize that devolving decisionmaking authority to the local level can improve communication,...

Inside Decentralization: How Three Central American School-based Management Reforms Affect Student Learning Through Teacher Incentives Ilana Umansky Emiliana Vegas Despite decentralization reforms of education systems worldwide, there is little empirical evidence about the processes through...

Vegas explores how schools change in response to increased competition generated by voucher programs in Chile. A unique data set provides information on teacher demographics and labor market characteristics, as well as teachers' perceptions of school management. When teacher data are marched...

The objective of this Policy Note is to provide a tool for countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean region to take stock of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs and policies in their territory. By benchmarking against other programs and policies across the region, countries can...

En America Latina y el Caribe, gran cantidad de ninos pequenos no reciben nutricion, estimulos ni cuidados adecuados, aun habiendose demostrado que el desarrollo en la primera infancia afecta enormemente los resultados de la vida futura de una persona, incluidos los aspectos de salud, educacion...

La comprension de que aprenden los estudiantes y como lo hacen ha surgido como un tema sobresaliente en America Latina, una region en la que la mayoria de los ninos ya tienen acceso al colegio, pero pocos estudiantes aprenden las destrezas que necesitan para tener exito. En "Incrementar el...

"Expanding and improving basic education in developing countries requires, at a minimum, teachers who are present in the classroom and motivated to teach, but this essential input is often missing. This paper describes the findings of a series of recent World Bank and other studies on teacher...