{"type":"script","doc_desc":{"producers":[{"name":"Reproducibility WBG","abbr":"DECDI","affiliation":"World Bank - Development Impact Department","role":"Verification and preparation of metadata"}],"prod_date":"2026-07-02","version":"1"},"project_desc":{"authoring_entity":[{"name":"Jason Kerwin","affiliation":"University of Washington","email":"jkerwin@uw.edu"},{"name":"Erik Andersen","affiliation":"University of Washington","email":"eander46@uw.edu"},{"name":"Simon Graffy","affiliation":"Inspiring Teachers","email":"simon.graffy@inspringteachers.org"},{"name":"Monica Lambon-Quayefio","affiliation":"University of Ghana","email":"mplambon-quayefio@ug.edu.gh"}],"title_statement":{"title":"Reproducibility package for How To Build A Reader: Evidence From A Scalable Literacy Intervention In Ghana","idno":"RR_GHA_2026_652"},"data_statement":"All data is temporarily embargoed by the authors (expected to be made public in the future).","software":[{"name":"R","version":"4.5.2"},{"name":"Stata","version":"18"},{"name":"Stata","version":"19.5"}],"scripts":[{"title":"Reproducibility package for How To Build A Reader: Evidence From A Scalable Literacy Intervention In Ghana","date":"2026-07","notes":"Computational reproducibility verified by Development Impact (DECDI) Analytics team, World Bank.","instructions":"See README in reproducibility package.","file_name":"RR_GHA_2026_652","zip_package":"RR_GHA_2026_652.zip","dependencies":"R dependencies are listed in the file renv.lock."}],"repository_uri":[{"name":"Reproducible Research Repository (World Bank)","uri":"https:\/\/reproducibility.worldbank.org"}],"production_date":"2026-07-02","abstract":"Addressing the massive test score gaps between rich and poor countries will require programs that are both high-impact and scalable. We use an RCT in low-fee private schools in Ghana to study a program that meets both needs. Tools for Foundational Learning Improvement (TFLI) increases test scores by 0.5 SDs after just 9 months of intervention. We use a machine-learning method to decompose the effects by students\u2019 predicted test scores if they did not receive the treatment, and show that the gains are larger for weaker students. Moreover, we show that TFLI\u2019s impacts scale roughly linearly with time as compared to a shorter-term, smaller-scale pilot RCT. The program\u2019s developers use generative AI to accelerate lesson plan development and adaptation to new settings. An observational pilot test of this adaptation to Uganda yields comparable results to our RCT. We develop a model in which basic skills constrain the development of advanced skills, which predicts the pattern of effects we observe across early reading capabilities, and makes forecasts about the future impacts of the program as it continues into second grade","geographic_units":[{"name":"Ghana","code":"GHA"}],"keywords":[{"name":"Economics Of Education"},{"name":"The Learning Crisis"},{"name":"Structured Pedagogy"},{"name":"Differentiated Instruction"},{"name":"Human Capital"},{"name":"Generative Ai"},{"name":"Development Economics"}],"topics":[{"id":"I21","uri":"https:\/\/www.aeaweb.org\/econlit\/jelCodes.php?view=jel","vocabulary":"Journal of Economic Literature (JEL)","name":"Analysis of Education","parent_id":"I2"},{"id":" I25","uri":"https:\/\/www.aeaweb.org\/econlit\/jelCodes.php?view=jel","vocabulary":"Journal of Economic Literature (JEL)","name":"Education and Economic Development","parent_id":"I2"},{"id":" O15","uri":"https:\/\/www.aeaweb.org\/econlit\/jelCodes.php?view=jel","vocabulary":"Journal of Economic Literature (JEL)","name":"Human Resources \u2022 Human Development \u2022 Income Distribution \u2022 Migration","parent_id":"O1"}],"output":[{"type":"Working Paper","description":"Policy Research Working Papers (PRWP)","title":"How To Build A Reader: Evidence From A Scalable Literacy Intervention In Ghana"}],"language":[{"name":"English","code":"EN"}],"technology_requirements":"Runtime: 12 hours","disclaimer":"The materials in the reproducibility packages are distributed as they were prepared by the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development\/The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this event do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, the Executive Directors of the World Bank, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the materials included in the reproducibility package.","license":[{"name":"MIT License","uri":"https:\/\/opensource.org\/license\/mit"},{"name":"World Bank IGO Rider","uri":"https:\/\/github.com\/worldbank\/metadata-editor\/blob\/main\/WB-IGO-RIDER.md"}],"contacts":[{"name":"Jason Kerwin","affiliation":"University of Washington","email":"jkerwin@uw.edu"},{"name":"Reproducibility WBG","affiliation":"World Bank","email":"reproducibility@worldbank.org"}],"reproduction_instructions":"To reproduce the findings in this package, please follow the steps below:\n- **Download the data:** Once the embargo is lifted, download the required datasets. Refer to the README for detailed instructions on how to obtain the data and the required folder structure.\n- **Run the code:** Open `run_all.R` in `Replication package.Rproj`, update the `root` path to your local directory and add paths to your Stata 18 binary and Stata 19 binary and run the entire script. This will generate all the outputs in `results` folder. There is no need to open Stata separately; the script will automatically launch Stata and execute the required Stata do-files.\n\nIn the meantime, the outputs from the replicator\u2019s run of the code are included in this package so users can review the figures and compare them with those published in the paper.","technology_environment":"Paper exhibits were reproduced on a computer with the following specifications:\n\u2022 OS: Windows 11 Enterprise\n\u2022 Processor: Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold 6226R CPU @ 2.90GHz\n\u2022 Memory available: 32.0 GB","datasets":[{"name":"How To Build A Reader: Evidence From A Scalable Literacy Intervention In Ghana data","access_type":"Data is temporarily embargoed (expected to be made public in the future).","note":"Source: World Bank","uri":"Forthcoming at https:\/\/microdata.worldbank.org\/","citation":"World Bank. 2025. \"How To Build A Reader: Evidence From A Scalable Literacy Intervention In Ghana data\u201d Unpublished data (embargoed)"}]},"datacite":{"creators":[{"givenName":"Jason","familyName":"Kerwin","nameType":"Personal","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Washington","affiliationIdentifierScheme":"ROR","schemeUri":"https:\/\/ror.org"}]},{"givenName":"Erik","familyName":"Andersen","nameType":"Personal","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Washington","affiliationIdentifierScheme":"ROR","schemeUri":"https:\/\/ror.org"}]},{"givenName":"Simon","familyName":"Graffy","nameType":"Personal","affiliation":[{"name":"Inspiring Teachers","affiliationIdentifierScheme":"ROR","schemeUri":"https:\/\/ror.org"}]},{"givenName":"Monica","familyName":"Lambon-Quayefio","nameType":"Personal","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Ghana","affiliationIdentifierScheme":"ROR","schemeUri":"https:\/\/ror.org"}]}],"titles":[{"lang":"en","title":"Reproducibility package for How To Build A Reader: Evidence From A Scalable Literacy Intervention In Ghana"},{"title":"RR_GHA_2026_652","titleType":"Other"}],"publisher":"World Bank","publicationYear":"2026","types":{"resourceType":"Reproducibility package","resourceTypeGeneral":"Other"},"url":"https:\/\/reproducibility.worldbank.org\/index.php\/catalog\/study\/RR_GHA_2026_652","language":"en"},"tags":[{"tag":"DOI"},{"tag":"Open Code"},{"tag":"Open Data"}],"schematype":"script"}