BASIC EDUCATION: THE DRC FACES ENORMOUS DIFFICULTIES IN DELIVERING EDUCATION SERVICES TO SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AROUND THE COUNTRY 68 PERCENT OF THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS WERE UNABLE TO READ A SINGLE WORD IN A SIMPLE TEXT. OF THOSE WHO MANAGED TO READ A SENTENCE, 91 PERCENT DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAD READ. POOR LEARNING OUTCOMES SPILL OVER TO AFFECT ACCESS AND COMPLETION. JUST 28 PERCENT OF GIRLS AND ONLY 37 PERCENT OF BOYS WHO START WILL SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE PRIMARY SCHOOL. IN FY 2014, IN RESPONSE TO THESE CHALLENGES, USAID SUPPORTED THE GDRC MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A READING PROGRAM WITH GRADE-LEVEL READING PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS; CLEAR, DETAILED STANDARDS FOR GRADE-LEVELED TEXTS; AND REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROPRIATE READING ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS. IN FY 2014 AND FY2015, USAID WILL CONTINUE IMPLEMENTATION TO INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND INCREASE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT AND ENGAGEMENT WITH SCHOOLS. USAID IS WORKING TO INCREASE GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO TEACHER PAY, THE LEADING CAUSE OF SCHOOL FEES AND EXCLUSION OF CHILDREN FROM BASIC EDUCATION SERVICES. IN ADDITION, PROGRAMMING WILL TARGET OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH, ORPHANS, GIRLS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN THROUGH ALTERNATIVE BASIC EDUCATION LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THESE RESULTS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH CONTRACTS AND GRANTS TO U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. KEY INTERVENTIONS: SUPPORT ADOLESCENT GIRLS' TRANSITION FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY SCHOOL IN A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE EMPOWERING ADOLESCENT GIRLS TO LEAD THROUGH EDUCATION (EAGLE) PROGRAM. INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION THROUGH THE ROOM TO LEARN INITIATIVE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE GDRC TO DEVELOP NATIONAL POLICIES TO STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATION SECTOR. ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES. IMPROVE READING INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF READING STANDARDS AND INDICATORS, TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS. REHABILITATE AND EQUIP SCHOOLS IN TARGETED AREAS. HARNESS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF EDUCATION. INCREASE CAPACITY TO ENSURE IMPROVED GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR AT THE NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL, DISTRICT, AND SUB-DISTRICT LEVELS.