An ex ante evaluation by Insper's Center for Evidence in Integral Education, released this week, estimates that the federal Pé-de-Meia program could reduce high school dropout rates but cannot address educational challenges for vulnerable youth on its own. The study, based on 2019 data, recommends adjustments to state programs to complement the scholarship, such as individualized support. The book detailing the results is available for free on Insper's website.
The Pé-de-Meia program, launched by the federal government in 2024, provides scholarships for vulnerable students in public high schools, aiming to eradicate school dropout. According to cited data, 23.4% of young people drop out of high school in Brazil. The initiative includes 10 monthly installments of R$ 200, withdrawable with 80% attendance, and three R$ 1,000 deposits at the end of each completed school year, totaling up to R$ 9,200 per student, contingent on approval and taking the Enem exam.
Insper's evaluation, developed from 2019 PNADc and Inep data, examined the program's potential impact. The findings indicate that, in line with international evidence from about 90 similar programs, Pé-de-Meia could prevent one in every four at-risk youth from dropping out, enabling them to complete high school. However, the study stresses that the program alone does not resolve disruptions in educational trajectories in high school.
Regarding state programs, in place since 2007 across 13 initiatives, the analysis shows they had relevant local impacts but lack complementarity with the federal one. Receiving both benefits yields the same effect as Pé-de-Meia alone.
Recommendations include adjusting state programs, such as scholarships for higher education or personalized monitoring, inspired by Canada's Pathways to Education model, which pairs scholarships with individualized development plans and tutoring. Columnist Laura Machado notes that states could provide the missing individualized support in the federal program, enhancing education quality for the most vulnerable.
