Making the Grade: The Sensitivity of Education Program Effectiveness to Input Choices and Outcome Measures

Abstract This paper demonstrates the acute sensitivity of education program effectiveness to choices inputs and outcome measures, using a randomized evaluation mother-tongue literacy program. The raises reading scores by 0.64 SD writing 0.45 SD. A reduced-cost version instead yields statistically insignificant gains some large negative effects (?0.33 SDs) on advanced writing. We combine conceptual model production with detailed classroom observations examine mechanisms driving results; we show they could be driven initially lowering productivity before raising it, potentially missing complementary in version.