Summary

The comparative report explores education structures and policies that influence equity in schools. It connects them to student performance in international assessment surveys and identifies which key policies and structures are associated with higher levels of equity. The key findings point to a number of ways education authorities can act to improve equity in school. Relevant policy measures include increasing public spending, especially in primary education; increasing the participation of disadvantaged children in high-quality early childhood education and care; assigning students to different educational programmes or tracks at a later stage, removing differentiation in school choice and admissions policies, as well as reducing grade repetition. The report also shows large differences between countries as to how these policies are implemented and how well they work in combatting inequality in education.