Educational Poverty in Italy

Educational poverty is one of the greatest challenges of our times, in several countries around the world. Despite the growing number of children and youth enrolled in primary and secondary schools, learning outcomes remain alarmingly low, particularly for those in vulnerable and underprivileged communities, facing obstacles to accessing quality education. This may be due to several factors such as limited resources, conflicts, gender inequality, and discrimination. In this book, we present the work carried out by the Laboratory of Effective Anti-Poverty Policies at Bocconi University (LEAP). Through our projects, we offer scientific evidence that measures the impact of innovative policies and best practices aimed at enhancing education quality. Using rigorous quantitative methods and sophisticated experimental protocols, we provide policymakers with scientific and pragmatic insights into what works and what doesn’t, helping them design efficient and effective solutions. By sharing results and interventions, we encourage dialogue, debate, and the development of policies to ensure that the potential of all children, regardless of background or social position, is realized.