Minutes - Activity Implementation Meeting No. 1

The initiative aims to improve literacy levels among primary school students in the Dominican Republic. The project began in 2013 and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through a Cooperative Agreement. The project's scope includes the implementation of various activities, such as teacher training, parental engagement, and monitoring and evaluation. The project's geographic focus is on the Dominican Republic, with a specific emphasis on the regions of St. James and St. Ann. The project's methodology involves the use of a monitoring tool to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The tool has been found to be effective in assisting Education Officers in monitoring the project's progress. The project team also conducts regular site visits to project schools for monitoring purposes and to provide one-on-one support to teachers. The project's key findings and conclusions include the importance of parental engagement in improving literacy levels among primary school students. The project team has worked closely with the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) to develop a parental engagement component, which includes the establishment of Parents' Places in schools. The project has also implemented a summer school program to provide additional support to students. Implementation details for the project include the use of a cluster-based in-service training program for teachers. The training program focuses on the use of technology, such as the Mimio, to enhance teaching and learning. The project team has also established a reporting structure with schools to track progress and ensure accountability. The project's timeframes include a mid-term evaluation, which is scheduled to take place in June 2016. The final evaluation will be conducted by USAID and will assess the project's overall impact and effectiveness. The project's recommendations include the need for continued parental engagement and the importance of monitoring and evaluation to ensure accountability. The project's deliverables include various types of reports, such as financial reports, quarterly reports, and annual reports. The project team is required to submit these reports to USAID and the MoE on a regular basis. The project's financial reports include funds vouchers, advance/liquid reports, and federal financial forms. The project's quarterly reports include accruals and financial reviews. The project's annual reports include tax reports and audits. The project's next meeting is scheduled to take place on June 24, 2016. The meeting will be attended by the project team, including the AOR, A-AOR, Training Officer, M&E Officer, and NPSC Director of Parenting Support Coordination & Behavioral Change. The meeting will focus on reviewing the project's progress, discussing ongoing activities, and planning for future events.