Bringing Learning to Light: The Role of Citizen-led Assessments in Shifting the Education Agenda Results for Development Institute June 2015 Cover photos: Children being assessed as part of citizen-led assessments. Clockwise from top left: Beekunko in Mali, Jàngandoo in Senegal, ASER in India, Uwezo in Tanzania. Results for Development Institute (R4D) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to unlock solutions to tough development challenges that prevent people in low- and middle-income countries from realizing their full potential. Using multiple approaches in multiple sectors, including global education, global health, governance, and market dynamics, R4D supports the discovery and implementation of new ideas for reducing poverty and improving lives around the world. This report was authored by a team at R4D led by Molly Jamieson Eberhardt under the general direction of Nicholas Burnett and including Michelle Engmann, Tara Hill, and Daniel Plaut. For more information, please contact Molly Jamieson Eberhardt at
[email protected]. Copyright © 2015 Results for Development Institute 1100 15th Street, N.W., Suite #400, Washington, DC 20005 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ii Executive Summary 1 Introduction 8 Chapter 1. What is a Citizen-led Assessment? 11 Theory of change 12 Who is involved? 13 What activities take place? 16 How much do citizen-led assessments cost? 22 Chapter 2. How Well do Citizen-led Assessments Work? 23 Evaluation methodology 23 How well do citizen-led assessments measure learning? 26 How well do citizen-led assessment processes work? 33 How well do citizen-led assessments stimulate awareness and action? 39 Chapter 3. Recommendations 52 Linked Annexes: Portfolio of Related Research 58 Annexes 59 References 65 Figures and Tables Figure 1.