Case Study

Enhancing Education Management and Data-Driven Decision Making in Georgia

Building Equity and Leadership with Data-Driven Education Reforms.
Education

The Challenge

Georgia embarked on an ambitious reform agenda to transform its education system, aiming to improve access to high-quality education for children across the country. The decentralization of many functions of the Ministry of Education and Science to schools and regional Education Resource Centers introduced new challenges in managing a decentralized education system at the national, district, and local levels.

Our Solution

Supporting Smarter Decisions, School Leadership, and Financial Equity

Chemonics supported education systems stakeholders to plan for and navigate the new initiatives:

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Chemonics collaborated with the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) to develop a comprehensive Education Management Information System. This included the creation of a Student Information System to collect, consolidate, and disaggregate accurate student data, reducing administrative burdens and enabling informed decision-making. Chemonics also introduced Geographic Information System (GIS)-enabled features to analyze geographic trends and inform resource allocation decisions.
  • Strengthening School Leadership and Management: Chemonics supported Ilia State University design and launch a master’s program in education administration, with support from UCLA. This program included 18 courses covering research skills, application of theory in practice, the social and political context of education, and professional courses. Additionally, we trained 2,298 school principals in financial management, effective school leadership, and principal standards.
  • Improving Financial Management and Equity: Chemonics collaborated with the Ministry of Education and Science to revamp the school funding formula, ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and transparency. This included developing a revised per-student voucher funding system that accounted for geographic and demographic factors. Chemonics also supported the creation of a five-database portfolio to collect accurate financial data from schools, essential for revising the funding formula and managing it effectively.

 

The Impact

Improved Equity, Stronger Leadership, and Smarter School Funding

  • Enhanced Financial Management and Equity: The revised funding formula and improved financial management practices led to a 20.6% increase in funding for rural schools, ensuring more equitable distribution of resources.
  • Reduction in Deficit Schools: The number of schools requesting additional funds decreased by 91%, indicating improved financial management and resource allocation.
  • Strengthened School Leadership: Within 2 years of starting, the master’s program at ISU enrolled 145 students (three cohorts) and graduated 60 (two cohorts), with 90% of graduates working in the education sector.

By leveraging expertise in education management, data-driven decision making, and financial management, Chemonics demonstrated how strategic interventions can lead to significant improvements in education outcomes.