Ten years of early grade reading programming: a retrospective (2011-2021)

This retrospective explores USAID early grade reading (EGR) achievements in the past ten years and highlights observations made by those implementing early grade reading programs. The brief tracks substantial progress made in program effectiveness and reflects on challenges in supporting meaningful systemic reform in complex environments. The research team examined basic program characteristics and student outcome data from 45 USAID-funded EGR programs and interviewed a sample of implementing partners to capture observations regarding the evolution of early grade reading programs.