Although an estimated two hundred and fifty million children worldwide lack the most basic literacy and numeracy skills, efforts to scale quality learning can help accelerate educational progress in developing countries, a report from the Brookings Institution finds. The report, Millions Learning: Scaling Up Quality Education in Developing Countries (83 pages, PDF), includes fourteen case studies  of "scaling from the margins" — including through idea adoption (the spread of new approaches that improve teaching and learning across an education ecosystem) and delivery innovation (the development of new ways to deliver education to marginalized children and youth such as distance learning models). The study also identifies the core ingredients for designing, delivering, financing, and enabling successful interventions, including elevating and supporting teachers, collecting and analyzing data, securing flexible funding, and fostering a supportive policy environment. Funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the MasterCard Foundation, the report calls for government, civil society, and private-sector leaders to embrace a culture of experimentation; create a network of "idea hubs" where effective approaches can be shared; tap expertise from various sectors; fund the "middle phase" between pilot project and broad uptake of an approach; and measure and learn what works.