This project is ongoing. Descriptions, methods and results may be updated after further validation.
Research question
Did participation in Prouca change the Ideb index, Saeb mathematics and Portuguese scores and the approval, retention and dropout rates of the schools involved?
Motivation
Governments in middle-income countries keep buying personal devices for pupils although the evidence on learning gains is mixed. Prouca is a large-scale Brazilian case for testing that bet.
Data
- List of participating schools and number of laptops delivered (Prouca, 2010)
- School Census, Ideb, Saeb and progression rates (Inep), 2005–2015
Methodology
- Difference-in-differences with school and year fixed effects, entropy balancing and matching
- Pre-programme placebos, event study, multiple-testing adjustment and dose-response analysis
Limitations
- Manuscript at the pre-submission stage; results will be released after peer review.
Implications
- Design of one-to-one device programmes (connectivity, maintenance and pedagogical integration).
- Opportunity cost of resources spent on equipment.
Planned applied products (possible outreach, subject to registration)
- Teaching material on education-policy evaluation for Economics courses