Introduction

Importance of Country and School Contexts in International Comparisons

The results of high quality international assessments such as PIRLS 2016 can make important contributions toward improving educational quality. Countries differ from one another in fundamental ways, including their education systems, and these differences are central in considering the PIRLS achievement results. The PIRLS countries have a host of similarities and differences in their educational policies and practices, and PIRLS has the specific goal of increasing understanding of these various approaches—the important differences and the effects of these differences on achievement across and within countries.