Our Results

Since Cooperative for Education (CoEd) began in 1996, we have provided life-changing educational opportunities to approximately 100,000 students.

How do we know our programs work?

We evaluate the success of each project and share the results with our partners. With the help of independent researchers from Marroquín University in Guatemala City, we analyze student and teacher outcomes through surveys, interviews, and pre- and post-tests. Below are highlights from our most recent measurable results studies (completed in 2007-2010).

CoEd also underwent an extensive evaluation, conducted by the Center for Sustainable Development in 2009-2010, which reviewed our organizational structure as well as our programs.  Read the Final Report from that evaluation.

We also know that our programs are working through the success stories of our graduates.

• Read about how our programs have helped rural Guatemalans such as Oscar and Roberto break the cycle of poverty for their families.

Textbook Program

Of the teachers interviewed:

• 91% believe their teaching has improved since they received the textbooks. 
• 97% experienced an increase in student comprehension. 
• 82% say that students’ retention of facts and information has increased.

Of the students interviewed:

Textbooks free up 35% of class time to engage students in active discussion.

• 90% consider the Textbook Program helpful in facilitating learning and retention.

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Computer Program

Of the students interviewed:

• 89% of students use their computer lab as a way to improve their future chances of getting a good job.
• 88% say that taking computer classes has changed their lives for the better.
• 79% say the skills they learn in their CoEd computer courses are useful to their lives.
• 71% intend to study computers at the high school level.

Of the program graduates interviewed:

83% of graduates are taking their computer skills to the next level.

• 83% use their newly acquired computer skills to further their education in vocational high schools or to acquire higher-paying jobs.

In addition, 90% of third-year computer students successfully passed the Microsoft Digital Literacy test.

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Culture of Reading Program (CORP)

Of the teachers participating in the program:

• 77% of eligible teachers were certified in the Advanced CORP Methodology. (To achieve certification, teachers must not only attend all training sessions, but also must demonstrate successful use of the CORP teaching techniques in their own classrooms.)

In addition, independent research indicates that:

• 3rd grade students in the Sacatepequez region experienced an increase of 16% in their reading comprehension scores after two years of participation in the CORP program compared to the results of children at the same age level before the CORP program was introduced.
• 3rd grade students in the Pixabaj region experienced gains in vocabulary and comprehension at twice the rate of a control group not in the program.

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Scholarship and Community Give-Back Program Studies

The dropout rate of scholarship students is 44% lower than that of non-scholarship students.

• 98% of scholarship students who graduate from middle school go on to high school.

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