Gender gaps are more pronounced in the region than in other parts of the world. Boys in the region perform better than girls in science and mathematics, while girls outperform boys in reading.

Only a small percentage of students in the region perform well in science, reading, or mathematics. An almost insignificant number of students are top performers in all three subjects.

Twenty years have passed since conditional cash transfer programs were first implemented in Latin America and the Caribbean. This book takes the opportunity to critically review the design options and operational solutions employed by the countries in the region, with the goal of systematizing this accumulated operational knowledge and identifying both good practices and remaining challenges. It addresses the major processes of the operational cycle: beneficiary identification and management of the rosters of beneficiaries, verification of conditionalities, and payment of transfers.

Development in early childhood predicts schooling and labor market outcomes in adulthood. In this paper we use a fixed effects identification strategy to assess how differences in the quality of child care affect the communication, fine motor, and problem solving skills of infants and toddlers. We show that children have significantly better development outcomes in classrooms with more experienced caregivers, and classrooms with caregivers who demonstrate higher-quality interactions with children. There is substantial heterogeneity in the effects of caregiver quality on child development.

The social development gains made by Latin America and the Caribbean have driven the need for differentiated services to enhance the inclusion of specific groups and to respond more effectively to their vulnerabilities. In the case of adolescence-a key stage in life during which skills are accumulated and conditions created for a full and independent adult life-tutoring programs have emerged as a promising alternative to reduce risk behaviors and encourage positive life paths.

This Breve is based on the original thesis work and on a webinar presented by Dr. Fábio Ferride-Barros regarding the "Ethics of Health Resources Allocation in the Publicly Financed Health Care System in Brazil." The perspective offered in this Breve complements a previously published issue documenting the use of health technology evaluation in decision-making in Brazil's health sector (IDB, 2015).

Half of the students in the region present low levels of performance. If all 15-year-olds who are outside of the education system or still in primary education were included, this proportion would be even greater.

Although several countries in the region improved their results, they must all accelerate their rate of improvement to achieve higher performance levels.