From rigorous evidence to impact in the classroom: what it takes to bring evidence-based interventions to scale

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Over the past two decades, there has been a remarkable increase in the availability of rigorous evidence on interventions that improve the wellbeing of disadvantaged populations worldwide. The education sector is no exception to this trend. Today, we know more than ever about what works to improve learning outcomes across diverse contexts. However, despite this growing body of knowledge, the number of education programs operating at scale based on proven evidence remains disappointingly small. This gap between what is known to work and what is implemented at scale highlights the substantial challenges involved in translating research findings into policies and programs that drive meaningful impact in classrooms.

In this session, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) will present its latest insights into what it takes to scale evidence-based interventions, with a particular focus on the unique challenges faced in the education sector. To ground our discussion in practical examples, we will introduce two case studies that demonstrate the complexities and rewards of scaling evidence-based education programs. Aligning with the theme of this year’s conference, a critical feature of the case studies concerns digital strategies: from using novel ICT delivery models for program implementation to enhancing the data ecosystem through digital data collection methods and management. These case studies provide real-world examples of how research findings have been translated into large-scale initiatives that aim to improve learning outcomes for millions of children.

Sub Unit

• General Pool

Organizer

• Sarah Kabay, Innovations For Poverty Action

Chair

• Karla Petersen, Innovations for Poverty Action

Individual Presentations

• Paper 1: Conceptualizing the work to scale educational intervention - Sarah Kabay, Innovations For Poverty Action

• Paper 3: Scaling up Teacher Pay for Performance Contracts in Rwandan Schools - Jean Leodomir HABARIMANA MFURA, Innovations for Poverty Action