- Evaluation Studies Underway
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Teacher Quality
- Choice
- English Language Learning
- Effectiveness of Educational Technology Interventions
- Supplemental Educational Services
- After-School Programs
- School-Based Violence Prevention Program
- Adult Education
- Student Mentoring Program
- Random Mandatory Drug Testing Study
- Career and Technical Education (CTE)
- Upward Bound Program
- Comprehensive Technical Assistance Centers
- Magnet School Assistance Program
- Technical Assistance
- Special Education
Evaluation of the Impact of Literacy Instruction on Adult ESL (English as a Second Language) Learners
Contractor: American Institutes for Research (AIR),The Lewin Group (TLG), Educational Testing Services (ETS), Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR), and Berkeley Policy Associates (BPA).
Key Staff:
Larry Condelli (AIR)
Michael Fishman (TLG)
Susan Sprachman (MPR)
Johannes Bos (BPA)
Research Questions:
- How effective is literacy instruction in improving the English reading and speaking skills of adult ESL learners who have low levels of literacy in their native language?
- Does literacy instruction have differential effectiveness for subgroups of adult ESL literacy learners?
- How well do instructors implement adult ESL literacy instruction?
Design: Thomson-Heinle's Sam & Pat workbook series has been selected as the literacy instruction to be evaluated. Approximately ten adult education programs will be recruited for the evaluation. Within each program, two instructors will be randomly assigned to implement the Sam & Pat workbook and two instructors will be randomly assigned to deliver the typical adult ESL curriculum. Approximately 1,800 adult ESL learners (180 learners per program) from two cohorts will participate in the evaluation. Learners will be randomly assigned to a classroom in which the Sam & Pat workbook is implemented or a classroom in which the typical instruction is delivered. The result of the random assignment process will be a total of approximately 90 learners from each program participating in the Sam & Pat condition and approximately 90 learners from each program participating in the typical instruction condition. Data collection will include learner background interviews, classroom observations, attendance logs, and pre- and post-tests of learners' English reading and speaking abilities. Background information on teachers will also be collected.
Duration: 5 1/2 years (September, 2004 - March, 2010)
Reports: The final report on this study will be announced on http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/.
Current Status: (December 2007) Site recruitment and development of a teacher training to accompany the Sam & Pat workbook are currently underway.
