given the evidence that many students in costa rica start school w ith weak foundation skills especially basic reading skills the country might also consider bringing forward the primary assessment to an earlier grade or adding an additional assessment in the early years of primary school gaining a better understanding of where and how students are starting to fall behind would enable the development of more effective supports to teachers and schools recognising the importance of consolidating basic skills in the early grades for later learning many oecd countries have introduced a national assessment in the second eg france italy third eg germany sweden or fourth grade eg chile korea of primary school oecd one essential improvement at any grade in costa rica is better information on the equity of outcomes