Reading Plus

Reading Plus

Program Description

Reading Plus is a web-based literacy program designed for students in grades 3 through 12. It aims to enhance reading comprehension, vocabulary, efficiency, and motivation by combining personalized practice with adaptive instruction. The program offers students choices and control over their learning experience, fostering the development of critical reading skills necessary for understanding complex texts. 

Student population

Reading Plus was evaluated in a randomized study involving 426 4th and 5th grade students across six elementary schools in an urban district in the northeastern United States. The study included White students and those eligible for Free and Reduced-Price Meals, indicating varied socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Current evidence

Reading Plus has received a "Strong" rating from Evidence for ESSA(https://www.evidenceforessa.org/program/reading-plus/). The study found that students using Reading Plus demonstrated significantly greater improvements in reading proficiency compared to control students who received other forms of targeted reading instruction. Specifically, the program achieved an average effect size of +0.11, as measured by the Group Reading Assessment Diagnostic Evaluation (GRADE).

For more information:

Website: https://www.readingplus.com/

Spichtig, A. N., Gehsmann, K. M., Pascoe, J. P., & Ferrara, J. D. (2019). The impact of adaptive, web-based, scaffolded silent reading instruction on the reading achievement of students in Grades 4 and 5. The Elementary School Journal, 119(3), 443-467.