Research and Evaluation

Learning assessments and program evaluations help education stakeholders make informed decisions about policy, instruction, and resource allocation. This helps them understand whether their programs are improving their education systems and, more importantly, increasing student learning.

Yet, assessments can vary widely—from nationwide Early Grade Reading Assessments (EGRAs) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMAs) to weekly classroom-level formative assessments. Choosing, adapting, implementing, and analyzing results from the most appropriate tools requires a deep understanding of a program’s purpose, the research questions being asked, and the educational environment.

STS has expertise in all stages of educational research and evaluation—from designing research and evaluations to developing tools, from training enumerators to ensuring accurate collection, from helping audiences understand findings to building the research and evaluation capacities of its partners.

STS has conducted baseline, midline, and endline evaluations around the world using a variety of tools, including EGRAs, EGMAs, Snapshots of School Management Effectiveness (SSME), Secondary Grade Reading Assessments (SeGRAs), and Secondary Grade Mathematics Assessments (SeGMAs). STS also designs program monitoring and evaluation systems and conducts process and program evaluations. STS has also conducted research on learning environments, including teacher motivation, time on task, and parents’ attitudes about children’s learning.

With all our research and evaluation efforts, we work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to ensure the best design for each situation and, where possible, to build local capacity.