The Universal Literacy initiative's goal is to have all students reading on grade level by the end of the second grade, by 2026. The initiative takes a research-based, capacity-building approach by training educators to become Reading Coaches, who work with K-2 teachers individually and in groups on how to effectively teach children to read.…

This social validity study accompanied a 9-month randomized control trial that investigated the efficacy of an emergent literacy program, Early Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB), delivered in general education elementary classrooms to students with severe disabilities, including autism. The social validity research questions focused on (a) the social…

This study evaluated the efficacy of the Word Learning Strategies (WLS) supplementary program designed to develop upper-elementary students' vocabulary skills in order to improve reading comprehension. The study used a true, group-randomized, experimental design, which randomly assigned 46 4th grade classrooms (n=1324 students) from 12 districts…

This study investigated the effectiveness of the S.P.I.R.E.® reading intervention program for struggling readers in grades 2-10. Specifically, the study examined the program's impact on students identified as English Language Learners (ELL) and Special Education students. Seventy-five students from the Whitehall City School District (Ohio)…

I examined the perceptions of parents, students, and teachers of Saturday Academy, an intervention for students who are at risk of failing academically. The problem is that nearly half of students who attend high school may be at risk of dropping out before they graduate. The purpose of this study was to describe, evaluate, and analyze the…

"A Newspaper in My Classroom" project was conducted by a Grade 5 teacher with her class for four months. During the project, the newspaper supplemented the regular textbooks for language arts. Exposure to the project did not result in perceptible differences in performance on a semantic differential containing seven concepts or on the…