A McKinsey & Company report aims to provide a toolbox for policymakers and other stakeholders on the policy reforms and governance strategies that can promote sustained improvement in students’ learning outcomes. Significant analytical and methodological shortcomings raise doubts about the report’s findings and conclusions, however. For instance, not considering counterfactual cases (i.e., countries that do not experience an improvement) limits the report’s capacity to establish causal links between the strategies identified and the improvement of learning outcomes. The report's usefulness is further weakened by the lack of specificity and universal scope of its recommendations and the superficial analysis of factors shaping implementation processes.

Suggested Citation: Fontdevila, C., Verger, A., & Zancajo, A. (2024). NEPC review: Spark & sustain: How all the world’s school systems can improve learning at scale. EdChoice. Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center. Retrieved [date], from http://nepc.colorado.edu/review/learning