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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases Final Investigation Report on 2025 Explosion and Fire at Shell Polymers Monaca Facility in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (TNSrpt) -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases Final Investigation Report on 2025 Explosion and Fire at Shell Polymers Monaca Facility in Pennsylvania
Washington, D.C., September 16, 2026 -- The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today released the agency's final report on its investigation into the major June 4, 2025, explosion and fire at the Shell Polymers Monaca (Shell) facility in Monaca, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred when flammable cracked gas backflowed into the firebox
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (TNSrpt) -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases Final Investigation Report on 2025 Explosion and Fire at Shell Polymers Monaca Facility in Pennsylvania
Washington, D.C., September 16, 2026 -- The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today released the agency's final report on its investigation into the major June 4, 2025, explosion and fire at the Shell Polymers Monaca (Shell) facility in Monaca, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred when flammable cracked gas backflowed into the fireboxof an ethane cracking furnace, known as Furnace 5, and ignited.
The explosion severely damaged Furnace 5 and was followed by a fire that resulted in the evacuation of 15 employees. Shell estimated approximately $95 million in property damage. The incident also resulted in the release of an estimated 5,100 pounds of ethylene and combustion products. Furnace 5 was repaired and returned to service approximately seven months after the incident.
The CSB determined that the cause of the incident was the inadvertent simultaneous opening of two motor-operated valves (MOVs) that had been used to isolate Furnace 5. Opening both valves created an unintended flow path that allowed flammable cracked gas to backflow from the downstream quench tower into the furnace firebox, where the gas contacted lit pilots and ignited. The final report found several factors that contributed to the incident, including: (i) the assignment of a process control engineer who had never performed the task before and had limited process knowledge, (ii) reliance on ineffective administrative controls, and (iii) deficiencies in the design of the safety system's human-machine interface that made it difficult to clearly distinguish the furnace valves.
CSB Chairman Steve Owens said, "This serious incident highlights the importance of ensuring that the personnel who are assigned to critical tasks actually have the experience to do them, as well the need to have a process control system that is easy to understand and clearly communicates essential information to the people operating it. Fortunately no one was killed or seriously injured in this incident, but it could have been even worse under different circumstances."
The Shell facility converts ethane to ethylene through a high-temperature process in an ethane cracking unit containing seven furnaces. During the process, a solid carbon residue known as coke is produced and collects in coke traps designed to prevent the material from moving downstream through the process. In late March 2025, Shell inspected the coke trap of Furnace 1 during an ethane cracking unit outage and decided in early April 2025 that the coke traps of all seven furnaces needed to be cleaned during the outage. None of the coke traps in any of the furnaces had ever been cleaned prior to this time.
The coke traps in Furnaces 1, 2, 4, and 7 were successfully cleaned for the first time during the ethane cracking unit outage. Furnace 5 was the next coke trap to be cleaned. However, by the time that the Furnace 5 coke trap cleaning was completed on June 3, Furnaces 1, 2, 3, and 4 were in ethane cracking mode.
As Furnace 5 was being returned to service after its coke trap was cleaned, a process control engineer inadvertently opened both of the valves that isolated the furnace from the downstream equipment. The process control engineer had never performed this task before. When both valves were opened, the resulting flow path allowed flammable cracked gas to backflow into the furnace, where it contacted lit pilots and ignited approximately six minutes later, causing an explosion that ruptured the firebox wall and a subsequent fire
Although many factors contributed to the incident, the CSB's final report addresses the two primary safety issues that contributed to the incident: (i) a reliance on administrative controls and (ii) the human machine interface.
Shell relied on 11 administrative controls to prevent cracked-gas backflow and a potential explosion, but these controls all depended on workers and managers following procedures. Although Shell's process hazard analyses had identified backflow as a potentially fatal hazard, the facility did not implement engineered safeguards to prevent it when the furnace was in its double-isolation state. The CSB found that the furnace technology licensor had provided engineered controls capable of preventing backflow, but Shell had not configured them for use during the removal of double isolation.
The CSB further found that Shell's Human Machine Interface (HMI), displayed three nearly identical valves on a single logic screen, with identification tags that differed primarily by their final digit. The HMI design contributed to the process control engineer inadvertently manipulating the wrong valve, creating a hazardous flow path into a furnace containing lit pilots.
CSB Investigator Owen Trippany said, "This incident demonstrates the importance of using engineered safeguards to control serious process hazards in all modes of operation, rather than relying solely on procedures and worker actions. The CSB's investigation found that available engineering controls could have been used to prevent the backflow of flammable gas into the furnace."
As a result of its investigation, the CSB has issued two recommendations to Shell aimed at strengthening process safety at the Monaca facility and preventing a recurrence. First, the CSB is recommending that Shell review its hazard analysis to identify potentially catastrophic scenarios that rely solely on administrative controls and implement inherently safer designs or engineered safeguards where appropriate. Second, the CSB is recommending that Shell, using input from the technology licensor and recognized industry practices, implement and maintain an engineered control to prevent cracked gas from backflowing into a furnace during all modes of operation.
The CSB is an independent, nonregulatory federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency's core mission activities include conducting incident investigations to identify root cause of releases; formulating preventive or mitigative recommendations based on investigation findings and advocating for their implementation; issuing reports containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations arising from incident investigations; and conducting studies on chemical hazards.
The agency's board members are appointed by the President subject to Senate confirmation. The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.
Please visit our website, www.csb.gov. For more information, contact Director of External Affairs Hillary Cohen at Hillary.Cohen@csb.gov.
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REPORT: https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/shell_investigation_report_publication.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.csb.gov/us-chemical-safety-board-releases-final-investigation-report-on-2025-explosion-and-fire-at-shell-polymers-monaca-facility-in-pennsylvania/
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and Royal Commission for AlUla Break Ground on Arabian Leopard Exhibit
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and Royal Commission for AlUla Break Ground on Arabian Leopard Exhibit
Milestone Advances Global Partnership To Help Save One of the World's Rarest Big Cats
September 16, 2026
The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) broke ground yesterday, Tuesday, Sept. 15, on a new exhibit for the critically endangered Arabian leopard, marking a major milestone in their global partnership
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and Royal Commission for AlUla Break Ground on Arabian Leopard Exhibit
Milestone Advances Global Partnership To Help Save One of the World's Rarest Big Cats
September 16, 2026
The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) broke ground yesterday, Tuesday, Sept. 15, on a new exhibit for the critically endangered Arabian leopard, marking a major milestone in their global partnershipto help save the species from extinction.
The "Saudi Arabia: Arabian Leopard" exhibit is slated to open winter 2029 at the Zoo in Washington, D.C. It will be the first exhibit to showcase Arabian leopards outside the Arabian Peninsula and will be home to a breeding pair from RCU's Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Centre, the first wildlife institution in Saudi Arabia accredited by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA).
Fewer than an estimated 120 Arabian leopards remain in the wild. RCU leads long-term recovery efforts focused on ecosystem and habitat restoration, conservation breeding, genetic resilience and the eventual return of the species to its native range in AlUla. The managed Arabian leopard population has more than doubled since RCU assumed responsibility for the EAZA-accredited conservation breeding program in Taif. NZCBI is contributing decades of experience in animal care, conservation science, species recovery and public engagement to strengthen global efforts to safeguard the rare apex predator.
"This is an especially meaningful collaboration as the United States marks its 250th anniversary," said Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. "It is a moment to consider what we have inherited and what we will pass on, both in terms of our natural world and cultural heritage. What we choose to protect today will help shape what we leave for the future."
Bunch was joined by Brandie Smith, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of NZCBI, and Abeer AlAkel, CEO of RCU, who spoke on the Arabian leopard as a symbol of global collaboration.
"Extinction is not inevitable," Smith said. "When we bring together exceptional animal care, cutting-edge science, sustained investment and partners committed for the long term, we can change the future for wildlife. This exhibit will connect millions of people with one of the rarest cats on Earth and with the science and collaboration working to save it."
During the ceremony, Bunch announced students from Saudi Arabia will come to the Smithsonian to work alongside NZCBI teams combining classroom instruction with hands-on fieldwork and behind-the-scenes experiences in Smithsonian laboratories. Through immersive learning, students will develop the critical skills in small-population management needed to help restore Arabian leopards to the wild. The professional exchange, supported by NZCBI, RCU, the Arabian Leopard Fund and George Mason University, will focus on genetics, animal behavior-assisted reproduction, animal tracking, spatial ecology, animal husbandry and enrichment. This will further strengthen Saudi conservation capability by building on existing RCU and Arabian Leopard Fund efforts to create a broader long-term platform for knowledge exchange, scientific collaboration and talent development.
"Protecting the Arabian leopard is long-term work. It means restoring the landscape it needs, strengthening the science behind its recovery, and investing in the people who will carry that work forward," AlAkel said. "The future of the species will depend not only on what we do today, but on the expertise we build for tomorrow. Through our partnership with Smithsonian, we are sharing knowledge, developing Saudi conservation talent and building the long-term capability needed to support its recovery."
RCU also presented the Smithsonian with a replica of an Arabian leopard petroglyph representing the species' thousands-year-old connection to the landscape and cultural heritage of AlUla. The selected rock-art panel depicts a leopard and has been broadly dated to between 800 B.C.E. and 400 C.E. It will be permanently displayed in the future exhibit.
About the Future Exhibit
Inspired by AlUla's rugged landscapes and architectural heritage, the "Saudi Arabia: Arabian Leopard" exhibit will evoke the Arabian leopard's native environment through rocky outcrops, desert terrain and forms shaped by the region's wadi-carved landforms. The outdoor habitat areas and an overhead animal crossing will let visitors step inside the leopards' world. An indoor habitat and care facilities will keep the animals comfortable year-round. Interpretive elements will connect the Arabian leopard to the natural and cultural heritage of AlUla and show the science behind protecting a species, from genetics and reproductive research to animal welfare and long-term population management. Plus, visitors worldwide will be able to watch the leopards on a live webcam, offering a look into the animals' daily lives and the science working to bring them back from the edge of extinction. As part of the construction and design process, the National Capital Planning Commission approved final site and building plans Sept. 3.
As part of the Smithsonian, the Zoo is free and open to the public. In addition to reaching millions of visitors in Washington, D.C., a planned live webcam will allow people around the world to see the leopards and follow their story.
The exhibit and broader conservation initiative are supported by a $51.6 million gift from RCU. The funding supports exhibit design and construction, animal transport and care, dedicated scientific and animal care staff, conservation research, breeding and genetic management, professional exchanges and public education.
About the Arabian Leopard
The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Arabian leopards are the smallest of the eight leopard subspecies. They once lived throughout the Arabian Peninsula, but today the cats survive in a small fraction of their historic range. No more than 120 are believed to remain in the wild. The species has experienced dramatic declines due to habitat loss, hunting and the depletion of its natural prey.
To prepare for the leopard's eventual reintroduction, RCU is undertaking landscape-scale rewilding and ecosystem-restorationstrategy developed with IUCN across AlUla's protected areas, which cover over half of its land area. This includes producing more than 1 million native plant seedlings to rebuild functioning ecosystems and prey populations and releasing more than 1,700 animals as part of the wildlife-restoration program.
This milestone-based approach will help rebuild functioning natural systems, including the herbivore and prey populations that must be sufficiently established before an apex predator such as the Arabian leopard could eventually survive independently within the landscape.
About the Partnership
The groundbreaking builds on a cooperative agreement signed by NZCBI and RCU in May 2025 and a 15-year partnership designed to bring together people, science and expertise in support of the Arabian leopard's long-term recovery. The collaboration spans conservation science, animal care, professional exchange, public education, capacity building and the development of the future Arabian leopard exhibit. Under the agreement, a breeding pair of Arabian leopards is expected to be transferred from RCU's EAZA-accredited breeding program to the Zoo in fall 2028, where they will remain under RCU's custodianship, with NZCBI providing daily care. Any cubs born at the Zoo will be transferred to Saudi Arabia at a time mutually agreed upon by NZCBI and RCU to support long-term recovery and future reintroduction efforts. The broader partnership is supported by a $51.6 million gift agreement finalized in February 2026. There is no annual loan or acquisition fee.
About the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute leads the Smithsonian's global effort to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Its two campuses are home to some of the world's most critically endangered species. Always free of charge, the Zoo's 163-acre park in the heart of Washington, D.C., features approximately 2,200 animals representing about 400 species and is a popular destination for children and families. At the Conservation Biology Institute's 3,200-acre campus in Virginia, breeding and veterinary research provide critical data for managing animals in human care and valuable insights for conserving wild populations. NZCBI scientists and staff work in Washington, D.C., Virginia and with partners across the United States and around the world to save wildlife, collaborate with communities and conserve native habitats. NZCBI is a long-standing accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
About the Royal Commission for AlUla
Located 1,100 kilometers from Riyadh, in northwest Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561 square kilometers, includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned. The most well-known and recognized site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is composed of over 140 well-preserved tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement.
Current research also suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Roman Empire after the Romans conquered the Nabataeans in 106 C.E.
In addition to Hegra, AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed first millennium B.C.E. cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open-air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages, which was recently listed on the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. AlUla Old Town, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes developed from at least the 12th century, was selected as one of the World's Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by the UNWTO.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology-institute-and-royal-0
President Donald J. Trump Makes Critical IRF Appointments
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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President Donald J. Trump Makes Critical IRF Appointments
Sep 16, 2026
Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes President Donald J. Trump's nominations of Jane "Cissie" Lynch to be the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (IRF) and the appointments of Andrew Brunson, Robert Barron, and Joe Grogan to be Commissioners on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Beyond leading the International
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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President Donald J. Trump Makes Critical IRF Appointments
Sep 16, 2026
Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes President Donald J. Trump's nominations of Jane "Cissie" Lynch to be the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (IRF) and the appointments of Andrew Brunson, Robert Barron, and Joe Grogan to be Commissioners on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Beyond leading the InternationalReligious Freedom Office at the State Department, Ambassador-Designate Lynch would also serve as an ex-officio member of the Commission.
"President Trump's announcement is a vital step in advancing the human right of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) abroad. USCIRF calls for a swift confirmation process for IRF Ambassador-Designate Lynch," said Chair Asif Mahmood. "Filling these roles demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the United States to international religious freedom as a priority in foreign policy."
The Ambassador at Large and Commissioner roles are established in the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), as amended. Beyond the status as an ex-officio member of the Commission, IRFA stipulates that the Ambassador also serves as the principal executive branch official working on FoRB. The Commission, an independent legislative branch agency, has members that are appointed on a bipartisan basis, three from the President, three from U.S. Senate leadership, and three from leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives. With President Donald J. Trump's appointment of three new USCIRF Commissioners, USCIRF now has the requisite complement of bipartisan Commissioners as outlined in IRFA.
"In addition to the announcement of the nomination of Ambassador-Designate Lynch, we welcome the three new USCIRF Commissioners: Robert Barron, Andrew Brunson, and Joe Grogan," said Vice Chair CeCe Heil. "With these appointments, USCIRF's full bipartisan composition further supports our efforts to advance religious freedom abroad for all. We look forward to working together."
Robert Barron was appointed to USCIRF by President Donald J. Trump. He serves as the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. He hosted the PBS documentary series Catholicism, and he is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. He formerly served on the domestic policy focused Religious Liberty Commission. In 2015, Pope Francis appointed Barron an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Andrew Brunson was appointed to USCIRF by President Donald J. Trump. He is a pastor and former missionary in Turkey for 23 years. In 2016, he was arrested on false charges and kept in detention for two years. Released after diplomatic pressure, he authored the memoir God's Hostage and leads WaveStarters, a ministry focused on persecuted Christians globally.
Joe Grogan was appointed to USCIRF by President Donald J. Trump. He is the former director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council and assistant to President Trump. As a public policy and healthcare expert, he has worked across sectors from Wall Street, Life Sciences and Emerging Technologies. He is a Visiting Senior Scholar at the University of Southern California's Schaeffer Institute.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@USCIRF.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/president-donald-j-trump-makes-critical-irf-appointments
NTSB Recommends Fully Electronic Tolling After Deadly Ohio Toll Plaza Crash
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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NTSB Recommends Fully Electronic Tolling After Deadly Ohio Toll Plaza Crash
WASHINGTON (September 16, 2026) - The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that a 2024 crash at a toll plaza on Interstate 80 near Swanton, Ohio, could have been avoided if the turnpike used fully electronic tolling and provided clearer information about toll payment options.
The crash occurred on Aug. 15, 2024, at the Swanton Township Toll Plaza on the Ohio Turnpike. An SUV was traveling in the left
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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NTSB Recommends Fully Electronic Tolling After Deadly Ohio Toll Plaza Crash
WASHINGTON (September 16, 2026) - The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that a 2024 crash at a toll plaza on Interstate 80 near Swanton, Ohio, could have been avoided if the turnpike used fully electronic tolling and provided clearer information about toll payment options.
The crash occurred on Aug. 15, 2024, at the Swanton Township Toll Plaza on the Ohio Turnpike. An SUV was traveling in the leftlane of the high-speed toll lanes when it suddenly slowed and moved across the path of a truck-trailer while attempting to enter the low-speed manual toll booth lanes on the right side of the toll plaza. The truck struck the SUV from behind and overturned. As a result of the crash, two passengers in the SUV died, the driver and another passenger were seriously injured, and the driver of the truck was seriously injured. Sulfonic acid carried by the truck also spilled following the rollover, but no injuries were reported from exposure to the chemicals.
As a result of the investigation, the NTSB is recommending that the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission permanently close low-speed tolling lanes and implement fully electronic tolling at its toll plazas. The NTSB also recommended that the Federal Highway Administration adopt guidance on the safety benefits of fully electronic tolling.
NTSB investigators determined that the toll plaza's hybrid design, which combines high-speed electronic tolling lanes with separated low-speed manual tolling lanes, increased the risk of a severe crash by creating conditions that encourage last-minute sudden lane changes and large speed differences between vehicles. Video of the Swanton toll plaza over a three-week period showed 1,099 similar last-minute lane changes -- an average of 52 per day -- with vehicles illegally traveling through the marked area between the high-speed and low-speed tolling lanes. Illinois and Pennsylvania have already implemented fully electronic tolling on their portions of the Interstate 80 turnpike.
"This crash shows the deadly safety consequences of mixing high-speed electronic tolling with low-speed manual tolling lanes," said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. "We encourage the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission to implement fully high-speed electronic tolling, as states like Pennsylvania and Illinois have, and permanently close the low-speed lanes to make the roadway safer for everyone."
The investigation also found that emergency responders were delayed because they lacked direct access to the toll road. While this delay would not likely have changed the survivability of the crash, it does present risks for future crashes. The NTSB recommends the turnpike commission evaluate the need for additional emergency access points at toll plazas and construct them where appropriate.
Investigators also found that vehicle occupants were not wearing seat belts, which could have prevented their injuries and death. As a result, the NTSB is reiterating a 2014 recommendation to Ohio requiring the enforcement of seatbelt use for all vehicle occupants.
Following its investigation, the NTSB issued recommendations to the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Ohio, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, Springfield Township and the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association. Those recommendations and the full report are available on the NTSB's website. The investigation page contains the report and the investigation docket.
To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
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Original text here: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20260916.aspx
Inter-American Development Bank: 'When Does EdTech Work? Evidence From a Scalable Home-Based Intervention With School Complementarity'
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper in September 2026 entitled "When Does EdTech Work? Evidence from a Scalable Home-Based Intervention with School Complementarity."
Here are excerpts:
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Abstract
Despite growing investment in education technology, evidence on how to integrate digital tools effectively into public education systems remains limited. Substituting classroom instruction with computer-aided learning has often failed to improve outcomes, even though schools remain the most direct route to scale educational innovations.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper in September 2026 entitled "When Does EdTech Work? Evidence from a Scalable Home-Based Intervention with School Complementarity."
Here are excerpts:
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Abstract
Despite growing investment in education technology, evidence on how to integrate digital tools effectively into public education systems remains limited. Substituting classroom instruction with computer-aided learning has often failed to improve outcomes, even though schools remain the most direct route to scale educational innovations.
This paper studies an alternative approach: delivering personalized educational software to households, where smartphone access is widespread, while experimentally varying school involvement. We evaluate Leo Leo, an adaptive early literacy app for young children, using a randomized controlled trial in 105 public schools in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Schools were assigned to either (i) a family-only intervention providing access to the app, (ii) a combined family-and-school intervention that additionally provided teachers and principals with information on children's progress, or (iii) a control group that received neither the app nor school support. The home-based technology generates robust gains in early literacy, with suggestive positive spillovers to early numeracy, when complemented by school support; the family-only intervention produces no significant learning gains.
Descriptive mechanism analyses are most consistent with greater child engagement with the software as the leading channel. We find no indication that changes in parental inputs play a role, based on a household survey with a lower response than the student assessment. Overall, the results show that while home-based delivery of educational technology can enhance scalability, institutional involvement remains critical for translating scalable technology into learning gains.
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View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/en/when-does-edtech-work-evidence-scalable-home-based-intervention-school-complementarity
[Category: IADB]
Inter-American Development Bank: 'Fiscal Implications of Population Aging in Chile'
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper in September 2026 entitled "Fiscal Implications of Population Aging in Chile."
Here are excerpts:
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Abstract
This paper studies the long-term macroeconomic and fiscal implications of population aging in Chile using a semi-structural, multi-sector macro-fiscal model that links demographic dynamics, labor market behavior, sectoral production, fiscal revenues, age-related public expenditures, and government debt.
Beyond the application to Chile, the contribution lies in the integrated nature
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper in September 2026 entitled "Fiscal Implications of Population Aging in Chile."
Here are excerpts:
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Abstract
This paper studies the long-term macroeconomic and fiscal implications of population aging in Chile using a semi-structural, multi-sector macro-fiscal model that links demographic dynamics, labor market behavior, sectoral production, fiscal revenues, age-related public expenditures, and government debt.
Beyond the application to Chile, the contribution lies in the integrated natureof the framework, which allows for a consistent analysis of how demographic change propagates through the economy to affect fiscal sustainability.
Chile provides a particularly relevant case given the speed of its demographic transition, the growing importance of publicly financed pension benefits, and the central role of consumption taxation, as well as a production structure in which mining plays a key role in shaping fiscal capacity.
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View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/en/fiscal-implications-population-aging-chile
[Category: IADB]
IDB Approves $50 Million Program to Strengthen Economic Statistics in El Salvador
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Approves $50 Million Program to Strengthen Economic Statistics in El Salvador
September 16, 2026
WASHINGTON - The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $50 million loan to support El Salvador's Economic Statistics Strengthening Program, an initiative that will improve the quality of official data for decision-making. This program will be executed by the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR).
The program's overall objective is to increase
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Approves $50 Million Program to Strengthen Economic Statistics in El Salvador
September 16, 2026
WASHINGTON - The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $50 million loan to support El Salvador's Economic Statistics Strengthening Program, an initiative that will improve the quality of official data for decision-making. This program will be executed by the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR).
The program's overall objective is to increasethe use of official economic information for decision-making by improving the relevance, timeliness, reliability, and accessibility of statistics and the capabilities of the institutions responsible for producing them.
The operation will finance the implementation of a new Economic Census, the modernization of statistical systems, and the adoption of digital technologies for data collection, management, analysis, and dissemination.
The operation introduces several innovations, including the use of digital technologies throughout the census cycle and the inclusion of information on the informal economy, a sector that plays a significant role in employment and economic activity in El Salvador. By generating detailed information on both formal and informal productive activities, the program is expected to provide valuable lessons that may be replicated elsewhere in Latin America and the Caribbean.
"Reliable, timely, and accessible economic information is essential for governments, businesses, and citizens to make better decisions. This program will help El Salvador strengthen its statistical system, modernize the production of economic data, and generate the information needed to support investment, productivity, and sustainable economic development," said Ezequiel Cambiasso, IDB Group Representative in El Salvador.
The program builds on the IDB's long-standing support for strengthening El Salvador's statistical system, including support for the 2024 Population and Housing Census and other census modernization efforts. Through this operation, the IDB will continue supporting the country's efforts to modernize data systems, strengthen institutional capacity, and expand access to high-quality economic information.
The loan will be financed through the IDB's Ordinary Capital under a Specific Investment Loan modality and will have a four-year execution period. The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador will serve as the executing agency.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website:
https://www.iadb.org/en.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-approves-50-million-program-strengthen-economic-statistics-el-salvador
