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The early grade reading assessment (EGRA): Its theoretical foundation, purpose, and limitations

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  • Dubeck, Margaret M.
  • Gove, Amber

Abstract

The rise and widespread adoption of the early grade reading assessment (EGRA) has produced an ample supply of critics and converts. This paper seeks to clarify the purpose of EGRA and its limitations. EGRA was created to inform education systems and programmes and alone, is not an intervention. Designed to measure some of the foundational literacy skills that readers need for beginning reading, EGRA is a collection of subtasks, each with a specific purpose. This paper includes a description and rationale for each subtask, as well as the conceptual framework that underpins the assessment. Key results from multiple surveys provide informative, grounded examples of how the assessment results are being used to inform both classroom practice and system-level policy. We conclude with a brief discussion on the potential uses of EGRA and similar oral assessments of early learning for informing the monitoring of the post-2015 education indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Dubeck, Margaret M. & Gove, Amber, 2015. "The early grade reading assessment (EGRA): Its theoretical foundation, purpose, and limitations," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 315-322.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:40:y:2015:i:c:p:315-322
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2014.11.004
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    1. Halliday, Katherine E. & Okello, George & Turner, Elizabeth L. & Njagi, Kiambo & Mcharo, Carlos & Kengo, Juddy & Allen, Elizabeth & Dubeck, Margaret M. & Jukes, Matthew C.H. & Brooker, Simon J., 2014. "Impact of intermittent screening and treatment for malaria among school children in Kenya : a cluster randomized trial," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6791, The World Bank.
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    2. Agostinelli, Francesco & Avitabile, Ciro & Bobba, Matteo, 2021. "Enhancing Human Capital in Children: A Case Study on Scaling," TSE Working Papers 21-1196, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE), revised Oct 2023.
    3. Álvarez Marinelli, Horacio & Berlinski, Samuel & Busso, Matías & Martínez Correa, Julián, 2022. "Improving Early Literacy through Teacher Professional Development: Experimental Evidence from Colombia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12473, Inter-American Development Bank.
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    7. Rodriguez-Segura, Daniel & Schueler, Beth E., 2023. "Assessors influence results: Evidence on enumerator effects and educational impact evaluations," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    8. Berlinski, Samuel & Busso, Matias & Giannola, Michele, 2023. "Helping struggling students and benefiting all: Peer effects in primary education," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    9. Agostinelli, Francesco & Avitabile, Ciro & Bobba, Matteo, 2021. "Enhancing Human Capital at Scale," IZA Discussion Papers 14192, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Johnson, Doug & Parrado, Andres, 2021. "Assessing the assessments: Taking stock of learning outcomes data in India," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    11. Gust, Sarah & Hanushek, Eric A. & Woessmann, Ludger, 2024. "Global universal basic skills: Current deficits and implications for world development," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    12. Fazzio, Ila & Eble, Alex & Lumsdaine, Robin L. & Boone, Peter & Bouy, Baboucarr & Hsieh, Pei-Tseng Jenny & Jayanty, Chitra & Johnson, Simon & Silva, Ana Filipa, 2021. "Large learning gains in pockets of extreme poverty: Experimental evidence from Guinea Bissau," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    13. Araujo P., Maria Daniela, 2019. "Measuring the effect of competitive teacher recruitment on student achievement: Evidence from Ecuador," BERG Working Paper Series 150, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.
    14. Elisabetta Aurino & Sharon Wolf & Edward Tsinigo, 2020. "Household food insecurity and early childhood development: Longitudinal evidence from Ghana," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, April.
    15. Richards, John & Islam, Mohammad Shahidul, 2018. "Assessing literacy and numeracy among primary school students: A pilot survey in rural Bangladesh," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 55-63.
    16. Gordon, Nia & Godfrey, Erin & Aber, J. Lawrence & Richter, Linda, 2017. "Exploring patterns of receipt of cash grants, health care, and education among 7–10year old children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 177-188.
    17. Eble, Alex & Frost, Chris & Camara, Alpha & Bouy, Baboucarr & Bah, Momodou & Sivaraman, Maitri & Hsieh, Pei-Tseng Jenny & Jayanty, Chitra & Brady, Tony & Gawron, Piotr & Vansteelandt, Stijn & Boone, P, 2021. "How much can we remedy very low learning levels in rural parts of low-income countries? Impact and generalizability of a multi-pronged para-teacher intervention from a cluster-randomized trial in the ," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    18. Johnston, Jamie & Ksoll, Christopher, 2022. "Effectiveness of interactive satellite-transmitted instruction: Experimental evidence from Ghanaian primary schools," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    19. Piper, Benjamin & Zuilkowski, Stephanie Simmons & Kwayumba, Dunston & Strigel, Carmen, 2016. "Does technology improve reading outcomes? Comparing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of ICT interventions for early grade reading in Kenya," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 204-214.
    20. Renu Gupta, 2021. "The Role of Pedagogy in Developing Life Skills," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 15(1), pages 50-72, February.
    21. Ardington, Cally & Wills, Gabrielle & Pretorius, Elizabeth & Mohohlwane, Nompumelelo & Menendez, Alicia, 2021. "Benchmarking oral reading fluency in the early grades in Nguni languages," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    22. Rodriguez-Segura, Daniel & Campton, Cole & Crouch, Luis & Slade, Timothy S., 2021. "Looking beyond changes in averages in evaluating foundational learning: Some inequality measures," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    23. Stern, Jonathan M.B. & Dubeck, Margaret M. & Dick, Anna, 2018. "Using Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) data for targeted instructional support: Learning profiles and instructional needs in Indonesia," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 64-71.
    24. Ndijuye, Laurent Gabriel & Rao, Nirmala, 2019. "Early reading and mathematics attainments of children of self-settled recently naturalized refugees in Tanzania," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 183-193.

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