Across OECD countries, almost one in every five students does not reach a basic minimum level of skills. In addition, students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds are twice as likely to be low performers. Lack of fairness and inclusion can lead to school failure and this means that one in every five young adults on average drop out before completing upper secondary education.

Reducing school failure pays off for both society and individuals. The highest performing education systems across OECD countries combine quality with equity. This report presents policy recommendations for education systems to help all children succeed in their schooling.

Executive Summary
Chapter 1. Investing in equity in education pays off
-Equity in education and school failure: Key challenges in OECD countries
-Equity in education can contribute to economic competitiveness and social cohesion
-Fair and inclusive education as a lever out of the crisis
-Conclusion: A strategy to improve equity and reduce school failure
Chapter 2. Tackling system-level policies that hinder equity in education
-Recommendation 1. Eliminate grade repetition
-Recommendation 2. Avoid early tracking and defer student selection to upper secondary
-Recommendation 3. Manage school choice to avoid segregation and increased inequities
-Recommendation 4. Make funding strategies responsive to students' and schools' needs
-Recommendation 5. Design equivalent upper secondary pathways to ensure completion
-Conclusion: System level policies to reduce school failure
-References
Chapter 3. Improving low performing disadvantaged schools
-A  harmful equation: Disadvantages students and low performing schools
-A strategy for low performing disadvantaged schools to raise their students' achievement
-Recommendation 1. Strengthen and support school leadership
-Recommendation 2. Stimulate a supportive school climate and environment for learning
-Recommendation 3. Attract, support and retain high quality teachers
-Recommendation 4. Ensure effective classroom learning strategies
-Recommendation 5. Prioritise linking schools with parents and communities
-Conclusion: Policies to help disadvantaged schools and their students improve
References
Annex A. Review Methodology and Outputs