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Remedial Education: Evidence from a Sequence of Experiments in Colombia

Author

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  • Horacio Alvarez Marinelli
  • Samuel Berlinski
  • Matias Busso

Abstract

We assess the effectiveness of an intervention aimed at improving the reading skills of struggling third-grade students in Colombia. In a series of randomized experiments, students participated in remedial tutorials conducted during school hours in small groups. Trained instructors used structured pedagogical materials that can be easily scaled up. Informed by the outcomes of each cohort, we fine-tuned the intervention tools for each subsequent cohort. We found positive and persistent impacts on literacy scores and positive spillovers on some mathematics scores. The effectiveness of the program grew over time, likely because of higher dosage and the fine-tuning of materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Horacio Alvarez Marinelli & Samuel Berlinski & Matias Busso, 2024. "Remedial Education: Evidence from a Sequence of Experiments in Colombia," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(1), pages 141-174.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:59:y:2024:i:1:p:141-174
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0320-10801R2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Deming, 2009. "Early Childhood Intervention and Life-Cycle Skill Development: Evidence from Head Start," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 1(3), pages 111-134, July.
    2. Abhijit V. Banerjee & Shawn Cole & Esther Duflo & Leigh Linden, 2007. "Remedying Education: Evidence from Two Randomized Experiments in India," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(3), pages 1235-1264.
    3. Currie, Janet & Thomas, Duncan, 1995. "Does Head Start Make a Difference?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 85(3), pages 341-364, June.
    4. Marianne P. Bitler & Jonah B. Gelbach & Hilary W. Hoynes, 2017. "Can Variation in Subgroups' Average Treatment Effects Explain Treatment Effect Heterogeneity? Evidence from a Social Experiment," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(4), pages 683-697, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Berlinski, Samuel & Giannola, Michele & Toppeta, Alessandro, 2026. "Effective Families or Effective Schools? Experimental Evidence on Fostering Children’s Numeracy," SOFI Working Papers in Labour Economics 6/2026, Stockholm University, Swedish Institute for Social Research.
    2. Spencer, Noah, 2024. "Comprehensive early literacy policy and the “Mississippi Miracle”," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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