Sa Aklat Sisikat / Massachusetts Institute of Technology Jameel Poverty Action Lab Reading Survey Initiative

Currently, SAS is involved in a self-evaluation survey, being conducted in cooperation with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Jameel Poverty Action Lab (MIT J-PAL), Columbia University, and the Department of Education (DepEd). Began by Dr. Esther Duflo, J-PAL serves as a focal point for development and poverty research, based on randomized trials. Their objective is to improve the effectiveness of poverty programs by providing policy makers with clear scientific results that help shape successful policies. By monitoring and evaluating the SAS Reading Program, J-PAL is helping us to maximize our effectiveness at creating functionally literate students.

We began the Reading Survey Initiative in June 2009 with the Pilot Study and Baseline Survey. We returned in October to conduct the Reading Program and in December to conduct the First Follow-Up. Just this past February 2010, we successfully conducted the Second Follow-Up Survey and now look forward to the Third Follow-Up as well as the results of this partnership, both of which will be conducted and released, respectively, in early 2011.

For all steps of the Survey, MIT J-PAL has sent a representative to the Philippines. In June, Todd Kumler arrived to supervise the Pilot Program and the Baseline survey; six months later, Baafra Abeberese arrived to supervise the First Follow-Up and returned again three months later to supervise the Second Follow-Up. Both Todd and Baafra are PhD candidates at Columbia University and work for Professor Leigh Linden, who is deputized by MIT J-PAL.