Raising Student Learning in Latin America: The Challenge for the 21st Century (Latin American Development Forum) (Latin American Development Forum)

In the effort to meet enrollment targets for compulsory education in Latin America, the drive to achieve universal coverage seems to have left education quality behind. In the face of meager student performance, understanding what and how students are learning have emerged as salient issues facing policy makers in a region that has already achieved considerable success in the area of access to basic education. As many countries in the region embark on a series of reforms addressing issues of quality and equity in basic education, shifting their focus away from educational expansion, information on the policies and programs that can contribute to achieving student learning will be vital. This book brings to light recent advances in our understanding of the policies and programs that affect student learning in order to provide policy makers in Latin America and other developing regions tools for effective education policy making. Understanding what and how students learn has emerged as a salient issue in Latin America, a region where the majority of children now have access to schools but few students learn the skills they need to succeed. 'Raising Student Learning in Latin America' examines recent advances in our understanding of the policies and programs that affect student learning and provides policy makers with effective options. This volume relies on indicators from national and international assessments of subject matter knowledge plus intermediate learning indicators, such as dropout and completion rates. The first part focuses on the central role of student learning in education. The second part reviews the evidence on factors and policies that affect student learning. The final part addresses policy optons on education quality assurance. The Central Role Of Student Learning -- Why Does Student Learning Matter? -- How Much Are Students In The Region Learning? -- Benefits And Challenges Of Measuring Student Learning -- A Framework For Understanding Student Learning -- Economic, Political And Social Conditions -- Student Endowments And Behaviors -- School Endowments And Behaviors -- Organizational Factors And Policies -- Quality Assurance And Beyond -- Instructional Visions And Institutions For Ensuring That All Students Learn -- Conclusion. Emiliana Vegas And Jenny Petrow. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 221-224) And Index. The central role of student learning Why does student learning matter? How much are students in the region learning? Benefits and challenges of measuring student learning A framework for understanding student learning Economic, political and social conditions Student endowments and behaviors Schools endowments and behaviors Organizational factors and policies Quality assurance and beyond Instructional visions and institutions for ensuring that all students learn Conclusion. "Understanding what and how students learn has emerged as a salient issue in Latin America, a region where the majority of children now have access to schools but few students learn the skills they need to succeed. Raising Student Learning in Latin America examines recent advances in our understanding of the policies and programs that affect student learning and provides policy makers with effective options."--BOOK JACKET