EQUIP1 Launches First Principles Series
EQUIP1 released the first titles in the First Principles series, designed to give brief overviews of topic areas:

• Designing Effective Education Programs for In-Service Teacher Professional Development
  Digest | Compendium
• Designing Effective Education Programs for Underserved Populations
  Digest | Compendium
• Designing Effective Education Programs for Early Childhood Development
  Digest

EQUIP1 Hosts Conflict and Education Forum
On June 27th and 28th, USAID and EQUIP1 hosted the Conflict and Education Forum. Over 30 education and conflict practitioners and USAID representatives attended the forum. The objectives of the forum were to review and share education practices in conflict-affected environments; recommend new approaches to design and implement education programs in conflict-affected environments; and to discuss current monitoring frameworks and provide recommendations on building conflict-sensitive monitoring frameworks and indicators.

Dr. Dana Burde presented Education and Conflict Mitigation: What the Aid Workers Say and Dr. Grace Akukwe presented A Compendium of Education Conflict Frameworks. These papers were the basis for discussions regarding each of the topics. Additionally, Dr. Yolande Miller-Grandvaux presented USAIDs new Goals and IRs relating to education in conflict-affected environments.

Associate Award Headlines

Ethiopia: The Ethiopia Teach English for Life Learning (TELL) Program recently completed its teacher observation activity, collecting data from a nationwide sample of 583 Grade 3 and Grade 4 English teachers trained during TELL's 2010/2011 academic year teacher training program. Data analysis is currently underway, the results of which will be shared in a data analysis report to be released later this summer.

Honduras: The EQUIP1 MIDEH Project in Honduras was busy finalizing technical activities and preparing for closeout. May and June were intense months for training activities in each of the 18 departments, with a focus on trainings with school directors to analyze assessment results and make decisions on the basis of this information. An important final accomplishment of the project was the approval of a national calendar of testing for 2011-2016, developed by project staff in coordination with Ministry of Education authorities. The formal approval of the calendar by the Vice Minister of Education represents a major advance in ensuring a sustainable national assessment system. Additionally, in late June there was a formal launch event for all of the educational materials developed by the project in support of standards-based reform. The Minister of Education attended and signed a decree mandating use of the materials in schools throughout the education system, and USAID/Honduras Mission Director William Brands spoke at the event.

Liberia: Liberia Girls' Opportunities to Access Learning (GOAL), has recently completed PTA revitalization and training at all program schools in preparation for the upcoming school year. Following the PTA revitalization, the PTAs and other school and community leadership received training on the school improvement planning and grants managements. These trainings and additional support from GOAL field staff will allow the schools to design their own plans for rehabilitation, training or procurement of supplies. In combination, all of these trainings will allow the PTA to take a greater leadership role in their schools. Low-literate parents are also engaged and feel that they can contribute to improving learning outcomes regardless of their own level of education. GOAL also completed the first round of Town Hall meetings and drama performances on the value of girls' education. These activities were led by GOAL partner Talking Drum/Search for Common Ground and were seen to energize the community. Following the Town Halls, more community members volunteered to participate in PTAs. GOAL also began coordinating with the other stakeholders on the Health Promoting Schools component. GOAL has agreed to collaborate with the MOE on the provision and training related to school first aid kits; with the MOH and other implementing partners on hygiene promotion and water quality; and to begin rolling out coordination and training on school-based deworming and micronutrient supplementation with the MOE and Deworm the World.