We are pleased to share a new paper on the impact of community-managed schools on political participation in Central America. The paper, by Daniel Altschuler of Oxford University and Javier Corrales of Amherst College, surveys poor parents who have participated in managing the PROHECO and PRONADE schools in Honduras and Guatemala. It finds that some participants acquire skills and attitudes needed for participation in other community activities, and that some even increase their participation in civic organizations. Particularly interesting is that parental experience in school management significantly increases levels of trust–in teachers, other parents and community members more generally.
