This report is part of EGR’s contractual task C.5.1.2: Updated National Standards for Early Grade Reading and Writing Adopted. The review of standards with recommendations for future revisions defines the skills required for students to have a solid foundation in early grade reading and writing. EGR chose to combine the standards report with the curriculum review (C.5.1.3: Opportunities for Strengthening Early Grade Reading and Writing Instruction in the Grade 1-2 Curriculum Identified and C.5.1.4 – Kindergarten curriculum) because the MOEHE has only curricula rather than fully- developed standards. Reviewing the standards documents and curricula together provides a comprehensive picture of the status of KG-Grade 2 instruction in early grade reading and writing.

Arabic version

RTI International and our partner AMIDEAST are pleased to submit this Inventory of Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) for its Early Grade Reading (EGR) activity. EGR will assist the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) to improve early grade reading and writing outcomes. EGR will: • Develop leveled readers, decodables, and supplemental materials and stock these materials in ~3,000 government basic preschool, Grade 1, and Grade 2 classrooms in the West Bank; • Train ~10,000 preschool and Grade 1 and 2 teachers on best practices for literacy instruction; • Mobilize supervisors, coaches, teacher mentors, and school principals to deliver and support early grade teacher coaching and peer learning; and • Foster cooperation of schools, teachers, and communities, drawing on the energy and inspiration from parents, volunteers, and local organizations to support reading enrichment activities.

Education interventions and decisions should be justified. This time-on-task study is an example of gathering evidence with applicable tools to inform subsequent activities. The study was designed to use direct observations, track the use of time, and conduct interviews to inform Arabic literacy instruction and decisions in the West Bank. The following research questions were generated to guide this line of inquiry conducted by the West Bank Early Grade Reading (EGR) team, in partnership with the MOEHE. • Research Question 1: How much time is allocated in the school day on the school calendar for Arabic instruction? • Research Question 2: How is instructional time used that is designated for Arabic? How much of the lesson focuses on reading/writing? What instructional approach is used? What activities are students involved in? What is their level of engagement? Research Question 3: Which effective literacy instructional pedagogical behaviors are seen? • Research Question 4: In addition to the Arabic lesson, how much time in the school day is the teacher instructing? Does this time focus on instruction in reading, writing, and/or language development? • Research Question 5: What are the barriers to instruction and time on task?

The US Agency for International Development (USAID)/Uganda Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity (herein referred to as the Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity or Activity) is designed to support the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), to improve early grade reading (EGR) skills and retention by strengthening reading instruction, building a positive and supportive school climate for learning, and reducing school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV). Between March and June 2016, the Activity conducted baseline studies for the purpose of testing this hypothesis. Result 1 of the Activity focuses on improved delivery of EGR instruction, while Result 2 focuses on improving the quality of the school climate and eliminating violence in schools. To establish a baseline for Result 1, the Activity carried out Early Grade Reading Assessments (EGRAs) for Grade 1 and Grade 2 pupils. For Result 2, the baseline included Grade 3 and Grade 5 pupils’ experience of SRGBV; pupils’ perception of the school climate; and pupil, school staff, and parent attitudes about gender norms. The EGR study was conducted in March 2016, while the SRGBV assessment and related mediating factors of school climate and gender attitude was conducted between April and June 2016. At the time of the Baseline Report in September 2016 (RTI International), findings from the Result 2 study were not yet fully available. The purpose of this addendum is to report on the Result 2 findings, thus completing the 2016 Baseline Report, which focused primarily on Result 1. In this addendum there are selected summaries of information that are also provided in the 2016 Baseline Report but refer the reader to the 2016 Baseline Study Report for more detailed information on these topics, as needed.

The USAID/Uganda Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity (LARA) undertook an assessment of an eight-week social and behavior change communication (SBCC) pilot campaign in the Ssekanyonyi Coordinating Center, Mityana district. The purpose of the communication campaign was to improve parent’s engagement in their children’s reading practice at home. To evaluate the campaign’s impact, DLC Consult collected data for the baseline survey in June 2017 and for the endline survey in August 2017. The survey team interviewed 906 parents at baseline and 936 parents at endline.

Survey of Student Experiences of School-related Gender-based Violence (SRGBV); developed by RTI under the Uganda LARA project in May 16 2018

Survey of Student Perceptions of School Climate; developed by RTI under the Uganda LARA project in May 16 2018

Survey of Student Social and Emotional Competencies and Agency; developed by RTI under the Uganda LARA project in May 2018

Survey of Gender Attitudes May 16 2018; developed by RTI under the Uganda LARA project