Strengthening Local Capacities for Sustainable Impact: Lessons from scaling Brazil's Creative Schools Program

• In Event: Inclusive and tech-driven education: lessons and challenges from global initiatives

Proposal

Introduction

This paper shares effective strategies that the Brazilian Creative Schools Program has used to strengthen local capacities to scale up the program and transfer ownership to local Secretariats without losing the depth of impact. The Program has managed to scale exponentially using a strategic combination of training local advocates and organic expansion to transform public schools into playful and engaging learning environments. This transformation has positively impacted both teachers' and students', generating significant results in student learning and engagement. This study aims to present the methodologies adopted, the results achieved, and the lessons learned throughout the program's implementation and expansion process.

About the Creative Schools Program

Launched in 2021 as part of The LEGO Foundation’s Tech & Play initiative, the Creative Schools Program promotes playful learning combined with technology. The Creative Schools Program was one of the selected initiatives, alongside programs in Kenya, Rwanda, and Denmark. The Program has supported 16 Public Education Departments in transforming public schools into playful, engaging, and hands-on learning environments. The Program has engaged over 34,437 teachers benefiting more than 567,181 students, promoting student agency; making learning meaningful, and active; and engaging educators in creative, structured, and consistent teaching practices. The Creative Learning Pedagogical Approach originates from the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, drawing on the works of Papert, Piaget, Freire, and Montessori.

Methodology and Reach

The Creative Schools Program operates on two levels: school-based and system-wide, in partnership with state and municipal Departments of Education, supporting elementary schools. We provide direct support to Education Departments in creating professional development programs, engagement strategies, and institutional structures that facilitate school transformation by integrating Creative Learning into the curriculum and public education culture.

The Program’s strategy is innovative, working simultaneously from the top-down, in collaboration with Education Departments, and bottom-up, engaging teachers directly. We leverage formal commitments from local governments to create and foster the necessary structures for large-scale adoption of Creative Learning, while also engaging the school community in opportunities for experimentation and reflection on Creative Learning, sharing success stories and evidence of positive impact.

Two essential pillars support our scaling model: local capacity building and organic expansion. The first pillar focuses on training local trainers to design and implement training for teachers, generating significant multiplier effects and expanding the program’s impact at the grassroots level.

The second pillar involves both directed and organic program expansion. Directed expansion covers schools selected by the Education Departments to participate in tailored activities such as mentoring, specialized professional development, school plan development, and the appointment of school coaches. Organic expansion involves schools voluntarily participating in the program’s initiatives, including large-scale pedagogical campaigns, events, webinars, and open training courses.

Impact

A recent impact evaluation conducted by Germina Research examined the program's effect on four dimensions: love for teaching, love for learning, school effectiveness, and the institutional support offered by the Education Departments to schools and teachers.

The results show that the Creative Schools Program had a significant impact on participating students, increasing both engagement in the learning process and academic outcomes. The evaluation revealed that the program reduced the number of disengaged students by 10% in participating schools. Operating in 25,000 classrooms, the Creative Schools Program may have transformed the trajectory of over 18,000 students. Additionally, schools that implemented the program showed progress in IDEB indicators significantly higher than other schools, with an 85% increase in the average biennial growth among public schools.

Authors

• Ana Cabral Melo NEtto, Programa Escolas Criativas

• Ana Beatriz Bretos, Escolas Criativas

• Veronica Gomes dos Santos, Programa Escolas criativas

• Thais Eastwood Vaine, Creative Schools

• Gabriela Breviglieri, Creative Schools