FasterReading impact evaluation: endline report on over-age ECE student learning outcomes following an accelerated learning program

Rising Academy Network (RAN) is developing an accelerated reading program, FasterReading (FR), to support primary-grade students on foundational reading. During the 2021-22 school year, RAN implemented the FR program in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Grade 3, 4, 5, and 6 primary classes in their schools in Liberia for the first time since the first part of program development was completed. This study focuses on the ECE sections of these schools and specifically over-age children in those classes, who are at particular risk of dropping out. RAN partnered with IDinsight to generate early-stage insights for program iteration and improvement, and to assess the impact of the FR program for over-age ECE students on learning outcomes and school attendance. We conducted a randomised controlled trial (RCT) in 74 of 95 RAN-supported schools across 10 Liberian counties. RAN rolled out FR in 37 treatment schools from January to July 2022 while 37 other schools received regular ECE programming.